Topic-prominence
Mar 8th, 2009 by Zhizi
Topic-prominence
Chinese is considered to be a topic-prominent language (话题优先语言 huàtí yōuxiān yǔyán [話題優先語言]), where the topic of the sentence (defined as “old” information whereupon the sentence is based) takes precedence in the sentence. For example, the following sentences do not seem to follow normal subject-first word order, but adhere perfectly to the topic-comment structure (Traditional Characters in brackets):
院(yuàn)子(zi)里(lǐ) 停(tíng) 着(zhe) 一(yí) 辆(liàng) 车(chē)。 [院子裏停著一輛車。]
In the courtyard is parked a car. (A car is parked in the courtyard.)
今(jīn) 天(tiān) 爬(pá) 山(shān)， 明(míng) 天(tiān) 野(yě) 营(yíng)。 [今天爬山，明天野營。]
Today climb mountains, tomorrow camp outdoors. This is an example of a pro-drop sentence. The subject of this sentence (for instance, “we” or “I” or “our school group”) would be determined by context.
游(yóu) 泳(yǒng) 我(wǒ) 最(zuì) 拿(ná) 手(shǒu)。
Swimming I am the best (as compared with other activities, such as running). (I’m the best at swimming.)
Mandarin is often classified as an SVO language, because verbs precede rather than follow objects in simple sentences, but Mandarin also has many characteristics of SOV languages like Turkish and Japanese. This is clearest in word order, where almost all modifiers of nouns, verbs and adjectives precede the head (modified item), as is often the case in SOV languages, rather than follow the head, as is often the case in SVO languages. Hence
Prepositional phrases modifying a verb precede the verb
Genitive constructions precede the head noun
Relative clauses precede the head noun
Adjectives precede nouns
The standard of comparison in a comparative adjective precedes the adjective
Furthermore, Chinese uses postpositions in many constructions rather than prepositions, for example:
桌(zhuō)子(zi)上(shàng)
“table-on” = on the table
房(fáng)子(zi)里(lǐ)面(miàn) [房子裏面]
“house-inside” = inside the house
Mandarin also relies on the formation of adjectival phrases rather than subordination, for example:
被(bèi)我(wǒ)骑(qí)过(guò)的(de)马(mǎ) [被我騎過的馬]
“by me ridden horse” = the horse that I have ridden
给(gěi)人(rén)烦(fán)恼(nǎo)的(de)事(shì)情(qing) [給人煩惱的事情]
“(give people worries)’s matter” or “to people worrisome matter” = matter that worries people
Moreover, verb phrases come at the end of a clause if the object or indirect object is “marked.” For example, there are two types of accusative cases in Mandarin. Accusative I is the more commonly found case. Accusative II, also known as the bǎ construction,[1] results in a change of state in the object, and implies a stronger sense in which something is done to the object, and is marked with the prefix 把 bǎ and by a movement of the verb phrase to the end of the clause.
我(wǒ)打(dǎ)破(pò)了(le)盘(pán)子(zi)。 [我打破了盤子。]
I broke the plate. (Accusative I), versus
我(wǒ)把(bǎ)盘(pán)子(zi)打(dǎ)破(pò)了(le)。[我把盤子打破了。]
I (acc.)-plate broke (and it is no longer intact). (Accusative II)
我(wǒ)打(dǎ)了(le)一(yí)个(gè)电(diàn)话(huà)。 [我打了一個電話。]
I hit a telephone (I made a phone call). (Accusative I), versus
我(wǒ)把(bǎ)他(tā)打(dǎ)了(le)一(yí)顿(dùn)。 [我把他打了一頓。]
I him beat (up). (Accusative II)
Similarly, sentences with an indirect object marked by the dative 給/给 gěi– or sentences in the passive construction (with the subject prefixed by 被 bèi–) follow SOV word ordering:
不(bú)要(yào)给(gěi)我(wǒ)拍(pāi)马(mǎ)屁(pì)。 [不要給我拍馬屁。]
Don’t (dat.)-me flatter (Don’t flatter me).
他(tā)被(bèi)我(wǒ)打(dǎ)了(le)一(yí)顿(dùn)。 [他被我打了一頓。]
He by me beaten (up) (He was beaten up by me).