On the syntax-semantics interface of focus particles: the additive particle 還 hai “HAI” in Mandarin Chinese

This paper investigates the syntax-semantics interface of the focus particle 還 hai 'HAI' in Mandarin Chinese. In particular, this paper argues that the various interpretations of hai observed in the previous studies can be explained by the syntactic positions where it occurs. Based on the word order of hai and adverbials that occupy fixed positions, I map out the typography of hai: Hai occurring in the CP periphery is associated with the additive meaning. Hai that adjoins to AspP has the additive or temporal meaning. Hai adjoining to DegP is associated with the comparative or marginal meaning. I propose that hai only has one core sense, which is the additive reading (König 1991). By adopting the theory of alternative semantics (Rooth 1992), I propose that the various interpretations of hai result from the interaction between the additive sense, and the focus associate and the focus domain, which are restricted by the syntactic positions of hai.