Chapter 2 Previous Studies and the MRC Hypothesis

Based on a review of lexicalist approaches to the lexicon and syntax interface,this chapter explicates the theoretical framework related to the MRC so as to clear theoretical and empirical grounds for further studies in the Chinese language. The theoretical motivation for the MRC, the semantic notions underlying the two types of verbs and the hallmarks of manner and result verbs will be illustrated. Arguments against the MRC based on counterexample verbs in English are discussed and show that the purported counterexamples do not challenge the validity of the MRC. Two approaches which observe the linguistic phenomena corresponding to the MRC but deny its status as a lexical constraint are also reviewed to indicate that the MRC cannot be understood as deriving from different syntactic configurations or differences in aspectual focus. Rather it is a viable principle operating in the lexicon.