Double Mei(每) Constructions:Bound Variable Interpretations and Salient Reading

Mei-Cl-NP₁+V+Mei-Cl-NP₂+De+NP₃ sentences involve the unique Mandarin phenomenon of "Mei" -phrase as a bound variable,which has not been discussed in depth in previous studies.From the perspective of generative grammar and formal semantics,the paper holds that Mei-Cl-NP₂ is bound by the universal quantifier phrase Mei-Cl-NP₁,and its function is to help NP₃ become a variable so that NP₁ and NP₃ can form a matching relationship.Syntactically,this use observes the constraints imposed by Binding Theory.Mei-Cl-NP₂ cannot be a co-argument with its antecedent,and has to be a modifier of the co-argument.Semantically,NP₃ cannot be definite,and the cardinality of the set it denotes must be greater than one.According to whether NP₃ is unique for NP₂ in real life,the construction has two types of semantics:a one-to-one relation and a non-many-to-one relation between NP₂ and NP₃.Mei-Cl-NP₂ is ambiguous,though the bound variable reading is salient in some cases,which is usually related to individuality or non-repeatability of the event in question.The paper also points out that yi-Cl-NP,ge,and shui with the help of dou can all have the same pattern as mei-Cl-NP₂,though they have different matching requirements.