The Descriptive Function of Non-canonic Ditransitive Constructions: The Case of Body-part Nouns Used as Temporary Measures Words

Abstract

A non-three-place verb can be used in Chinese double-object constructions, where a body-part noun is often borrowed as a measure word (S-type temporal measure word). Although this sort of construction has been interpreted as an “attacking” expression, it is interpreted as “damage” to its indirect object in some cases. We re-interpret these expressions as “assault” and “damage” and then clarify that, in both cases, the constructional meaning of double-object constructions and the descriptive function of S-type temporary measure words allow a non-three-place verb to take two objects.