Coordinate structure “yòu…yòu…” in Mandarin Chinese: A semantic and syntactic analysis

      The structure “yòu…yòu…” is generally thought to coordinate predicates of a same subject. It describes coexisting properties or indicates actions that occur in the same time frame, and their conjuncts must belong to the same semantic domain (1-a). However, these descriptions are insufficient. Semantically, they could not explain why (1-b) is inacceptable. Syntactically, coordination of predicates with different subjects is actually possible (2-a), while constraints on it need to be specified (2-b). After analyzing 2096 examples of “yòu…yòu…,” we propose that (i) conjuncts of “yòu…yòu…” should agree on their aspectual features and that (ii) “yòu…yòu…” may coordinate predicates with different subjects if these predicates do not form independent sentences. Semantically, “yòu…yòu…” requires that aspectual features of their conjuncts be symmetrical; asymmetric combinations are either inacceptable or marked. When the structure coordinates dynamic predicates to indicate specific actions, the conjuncts must agree on their telicity (3-a, 3-b). When a stative predicate is coordinated with a dynamic one, the dynamic predicate should either have a habitual reading (3-c) or be marked by a perfective marker (3-d): the former strategy makes a dynamic situation stative, and the latter presents it as an indecomposable whole on the axis of time, which makes it possible to be viewed as a property of an individual. Syntactically, “yòu…yòu…” may coordinate predicates with different subjects in two conditions: (i) the coordinated propositions are related to another proposition in the sentence to indicate the cause (4-a, 4-b); (ii) the coordinated propositions share a same topic and serve to describe its properties (2-a). In other words, “yòu…yòu…” do not coordinate independent sentences (2-b). In the first condition, “yòu…yòu…” coordinates two subordinate propositions. In the second, the topic can be analyzed as a subject and the coordinated propositions as its predicates. To sum up, conjuncts of “yòu…yòu…” should not only belong to identical semantic domain but also have symmetric aspectual features. This structure may coordinate predicates with different subjects while it does not coordinate different sentences. Our findings complement the grammar of “yòu…yòu…” described in existing literature and could be useful to the teaching of this structure.

(1) a. Xiǎomíng   yòu     xǐ     wǎn   /   *xǐzǎo       yòu    zuò  wǎnfàn.

         Xiaoming  again wash  bowl / take-a-bath again make dinner

         ‘Xiaoming both did the dishes/*took a shower and made the dinner.’

      b. ??Xiǎomíng yòu        xǐ-hǎo   wǎn   yòu    zuò  wǎnfàn.

         Xiaoming     again wash-done bowl again make dinner

         ‘Xiaoming both finished the dishes and made the dinner.’

(2) a. (*Zài) zhèi jiā    gōngsī,  chǎnpǐn yòu     hǎo / dé-guò jiǎng,    fúwù

         at        this Cl. company, product again good/get-Exp. price, service  

         yòu  qīnqiè.

         again friendly  

         ‘The products of this company are good/have won a prize and its service

         is nice.’

      b. (Zài) zhèi jiā gōngsī,       jīnglǐ     (*yòu)  guǎnlǐ   lǎo kèhù, yuángōng

          at      this Cl. company, manager again manage old client, employee 

          (*yòu)  kāifā     xīn  kèhù.

          again develop new client

          ‘In this company, the manager takes care of old clients and the

          employees develop new ones.’

(3) a. Xuéshēng-men yòu   tīng      kè      yòu   xiě(-??xià) bǐjì.

         student-Pl.       again listen lesson again write-down note

         ‘The students both listened to the lectures and wrote down some notes.’

      b. Xiǎomíng yòu   chàng-le      gē,    yòu   tiào??(-le)     wǔ.

          Xiaoming again  sing-Acp. song, again dance-Acp. dance

          ‘Xiaoming both sang and danced.’

      c. Tā     yòu lǎnduò  yòu ??(shícháng) tōu  dōngxi.

          s/he again  lazy  again         often    steal  thing

          ‘S/he is lazy and often steals things.’

      d. Yí  ge   yòu      jié*(-guò/-le)       hūn        yòu   yǒu  háizi de nánrén…

         one Cl. again marry-Exp./Acp. marriage again have child Rel. man

         ‘a man who had a marriage and who has a kid… / a man who is married

         and has a kid…’

(4) a. Lóutī yòu lǎojiù, Xú tàitai yòu  pàng, ??(zǒu de zīzīgēgē   yí  piàn xiǎng).

         stair again old,   Xu  Mrs. again fat,       walk DE creaking one Cl. sound

         ‘The stairs were old and Mrs. Xu was fat. When she walked down, it

         made creaking noises.’

      b. Bàba   yòu     xù        jiǔ     /  líjiāchūzǒu,  māmā    yòu   shēng-le

          father again abuse alcohol / leave-home, mother again  catch-Acp. 

          bìng,      ?(wǒ zhēn  bù   zhīdào   gāi    zěnme bàn.)

          sickness,    I   really Neg. know have-to  how    do

          ‘Dad is alcoholic/has left home and Mom is sick, I really don’t know what

          to do.’