Meanings and Constructions of “Static Adjectives + bu liao (不了)”

—From the Perspective of Evidential Modality—

Abstract

This paper examines the potential complement “-bu liao” with static adjectives. This form expresses inference, and has been considered an epistemic modal. Contrary to most existing research, the following points become clear from my analysis: (i) This form appears in the predicate position, in adnominal clauses and as adverbs. When quantity expressions are added to the first two configurations, the meanings of the negated adjectives are different. (ii) When these forms are combined, they communicate manner. When separate, they relate a logical deduction. This study reveals that the core meaning is evidentiality of the speaker’s recognition in the broadest sense.