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Deviation of Transitivity in Ba-constructions from the Perspective of Mode and Speech Acts
ZHANG Shuo
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DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2025.06.004
National Library of China, Beijing, China
Ba-constructions carry high level of transitivity, but a deviation towards low transitivity happens. It is found that mode provides axis of this transitivity deviation, especially in spoken dialogue. Under the influence of irrealis mode, parameters such as aspects, affectedness of O, individuation of O, and affirmation exhibit different degrees of transitivity deviation. Speech acts, which is closely related to mode, are the driving force in discourse of this phenomenon. The composition rules of speech acts of directive, declarative, commitment, and emotive, which account for the majority of speech acts in spoken dialogue, determine that they are all irrealis. Therefore, under the axis of irrealis mode, several transitivity parameters of ba-constructions in oral dialogue deviates towards low transitivity. The phenomenon of deviation of transitivity in ba-constructions verifies transitivity hypothesis.
ba-constructions, transitivity, speech acts, mode
Journal of Literature and Art Studies, June 2025, Vol. 15, No. 6, 460-473
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