汉缅”动词+吃”连动结构对比研究 ——基于缅甸留学生汉语可接受度问卷调查的实证分析

Abstract

The comparison of formally similar constructions across languages is essential for understanding cross-linguistic variation and explaining second-language learners’ errors. This study investigates the syntactic-semantic differences between the Burmese “V + စား (eat)” construction and the Chinese “V + 吃 (eat)” construction and examines their implications for Myanmar learners’ Chinese interlanguage. Drawing on grammaticalization theory, serial verb construction typology, and cross-linguistic transfer, the study employs an acceptability judgment questionnaire completed by 35 Myanmar international students in China. The questionnaire examines word acceptability, sentence acceptability, Chinese-Burmese constructional correspondences, and open-ended responses. The results reveal a fundamental asymmetry between the two constructions. In Burmese, “V + စား” is a highly grammaticalized and productive construction expressing livelihood-related and habitual meanings, typically requiring a light verb-like element, such as လုပ် (do), before the main verb. In Standard Chinese, “V + 吃” is primarily acceptable in purposive serial verb constructions with recoverable objects, but is less acceptable following verbs denoting livelihood-related activities. The significant acceptability difference between အလုပ်စား (work + eat; mean = 2.49) and အလုပ်လုပ်စား (work + do + eat; mean = 4.37) supports the syntactic necessity of the light verb in the Burmese construction. Open-ended responses also suggest negative transfer from Burmese, potentially interacting with exposure to Yunnan dialects. These findings demonstrate that surface similarity does not entail structural or semantic equivalence and suggest that the constructions reflect different stages of grammaticalization within the Southeast Asian linguistic area. The study recommends explicit contrastive instruction, corrective feedback, and pedagogical sequencing based on object recoverability.