A STATISTICAL INVESTIGATION OF PRESETN-DAY ENGLISH CASE-MARKERS BY COMPUTER-PROCESSING

本研究的目的是为了弄清现代英语中是否存在格标记。为此，采用了基于计算机的统计方法，并汇编了大量数据。近年来的语言学理论如原则参数法和最简方案理论认为英语具有一个抽象的格标记系统。事实上，数据也证实了这一假设。最简方案认为，中心语-补语关系是英语格标记中唯一起作用的结构关系。然而，通过对语料的进一步观察，我们发现在格标记中，除了格中心语关系之外，中心语补语关系也是必不可少的。如果是这样的话，它将对语言学理论产生深远的影响。其中之一是完成大小写标记的级别。根据最简方案，英语客观格是在语象中心关系的基础上从逻辑形式上进行检验的。但我们的主张导致得出结论，逻辑形式与格标记无关，所有类型的格标记都是在显性句法中进行的。

The purpose of the present research was to clarify whether present-day English has Case-markers. To accomplish this, a computer-based statistical method was adopted and a large velume of data was compiled. In recent linguistic theories like principles and parameters approach and minimalist program, it is assumed that English has an abstract system of Case-markers. The data compiled actually endorse this assumption. Rather, a more serious problem will be whether or not the head-complement relation is necessitated for Case-marking in English.Minimalist program argues that the Spect-head relation is the only structural relation that plays a role in Case-marking. However, a closer observation of the corpus data reveals that in addition to the Spect-head relation, the head-complement relation is also reguired in Case-marking. If this is the case, it will bring about far-reaching consequences to linguistic theory. One of them is the level where Case-marking is done. According to minimalist program, English objective Case is checked at logicalform on the basis of the Spect-head relation. But our claim leads to conclude that logical form has nothigng to do with Case-marking, and all types of Case-marking are carried out in overt syntax.