Implicit Arguments Mediate Argument Linking: Evidence from Mandarin

Mandarin argument linking exhibits surface flexibility: for some transitive verbs, the surface object position can alternate between (A) selected theme/patient arguments (cf.(1)) (B) unselected location/instrument arguments (dubbed ‘non-canonical objects’; Lin 2001 a.o.; cf. (2)) or (C) semantically inert objects (dubbed ‘dummy objects’; Cheng & Sybesma 1998, Badan 2013; cf. (3)). No two of A, B and C may co-occur.

(1)

wo chi-le niurou-mian.

I eat-PFV beef-noodle

'I ate the beef noodle.'

(2)

wo chi-le shitang/kuaizi.

I eat-PFV dining.hall/chopstick

‘I ate at the dining hall.’/ ‘I ate using the chopsticks.’ (lit: ‘I ate the restaurant.’/ ‘I ate the chopsticks.’)

(3)

wo chi-le fan.

I eat-PFV meal

‘I ate.’

In this paper, based on novel generalizations and diagnostics, I argue that this alternation is not free, but restricted to a subset of verbs that involve Caseless implicit arguments. The empirical theta role alternation is the theoretical reflex of the role of implicit arguments in mediating argument linking: when a theta role is saturated by an implicit argument that does not require Case, Case is freed to license additional arguments bearing alternative or null theta roles.