228 MARK HANSELL
sibility of causality is the unmarked case in nuclear junctures, causality is
only worthy of mention when its truth value is marked (i.e. when it is being
questioned, denied, or asserted contrary to expectation.). The unrealized
nature of the PC can be seen clearly when it is compared to a similar-look
ing but quite different construction, the Complement of Degree. Both use
the particle de after V1? but in the Complement of Degree other material
intercedes between the de and V 2 , and V 2 is realized. For example:
(54) Wo ting de qîngchu. Potential Complement
I hear PART clear
"I can hear clearly."
(55) Wo ting de féicháng qlngchu. Complement of Degree
I hear PART extremely clear
"I hear extremely clearly"
The difference in interpretation is that (54) could mean that I am in general
capable of hearing clearly (my hearing is unimpaired) and it is irrelevant
whether or not I am at this very moment in the act of hearing, whereas (55)
means that I am now listening and now hearing very clearly.^6
Another factor in the relation of verb serialization to the expression of
causality is that directive causality (Shibatani 1974) is expressed differently
than direct causality. Directive causation is the situation where the Causer
directs the Causee to do something (referred to as "Jussive" in Foley & Van
Valin 1984), while direct causation is where the Causer brings about the
result through direct action. In Mandarin, the Pivot construction (core
juncture) is used to express directive causality, while the Complement of
Result (nuclear juncture) is used to express direct causality:
(56) a. Wo jiào tä lái. (Pivot )
I tell him come
"I tell him to come."
b. * Wo jiào lái tä. (Complement of Result)
I tell come him
(57) a. Nóngmin dà si lang. (Complement of Result)
peasant hit die wolf
"The peasant beats the wolf to death."
b. *Nóngmin dà lang sí. (Pivot)
peasant hit wolf die