Based on the theory of Prosodic Syntax, this paper discusses prosodic properties and syntactic effects of lexical neutral tone and syntactic unstressed syllables in three types of syntactic structures—[VO], [VR O], and [VO R]. The main conclusions d...
Based on the theory of Prosodic Syntax, this paper discusses prosodic properties and syntactic effects of lexical neutral tone and syntactic unstressed syllables in three types of syntactic structures—[VO], [VR O], and [VO R]. The main conclusions drawn are as follows: 1. Lexical neutral tone and syntactic unstressed syllables give rise to disyllabic incomplete feet, which are left-headed syllabic feet forming from left to right; 2. A disyllabic incomplete foot can combine with another full syllable to form a standard foot; 3. Feng’s (2013) Minimal Word Condition could expanded by considering both syllable weight and syllable number.
With the extended Minimal Word Condition, the phenomena concerning lexical neutral tone and syntactic unstressed syllables in three structures are not exceptions, but adhere to Chinese NSR. Then a unified explanation is provided for all legitimate phenomena within these structures.