Mandarin Wh-Question Formation

@cite{chou-2012} @cite{huang-1982a} @cite{chan-shen-2026}

Mandarin is a wh-in-situ language (WALS 93A: notInitialInterrogativePhrase). Content questions are formed with the wh-phrase remaining in its base-generated position, interpreted via unselective binding by a Q operator in C (@cite{huang-1982a}).

ANDL modifier: 到底 daodi

Mandarin daodi ('on earth') is the functional equivalent of English the-hell — both are aggressively non-D-linked (ANDL) modifiers (@cite{chou-2012}).

The cross-linguistic difference (@cite{chan-shen-2026}, isolated as the single typological parameter):

• The-hell (English/Singlish) is parasitic: must adjoin to the wh-phrase and rides along with wh-movement. In a wh-in-situ language (or strategy), the wh-phrase doesn't move, so the-hell is stranded.
• Daodi (Mandarin) is independent: can undergo covert movement to Spec-CP on its own, so it is licensed even when the wh-phrase stays in situ.

This file is theory-neutral: the Minimalist POV-feature analysis lives in Theories/Syntax/Minimalism/ANDL.lean; this file only carries the lexical entries with their typological parameters.

def Fragments.Mandarin.Questions.whMechanism : Typology.Question.WhInterpMechanism

Mandarin uses unselective binding for wh-interpretation. The Q operator in C binds the wh-variable in situ — no overt or covert wh-movement of the wh-phrase itself occurs.

Equations

• Fragments.Mandarin.Questions.whMechanism = Typology.Question.WhInterpMechanism.unselectiveBinding

def Fragments.Mandarin.Questions.daodi : Typology.ExpressiveModifier.ExpressiveWhModifier

到底 daodi ('on earth') — Mandarin ANDL modifier.

Theory-neutral lexical entry: phonological form, gloss, and typological parameters only. The POV-feature analysis (shared with the-hell) lives in Theories/Syntax/Minimalism/ANDL.lean; no Minimalist commitments are baked in here.

Equations

• Fragments.Mandarin.Questions.daodi = { form := "到底", gloss := "dàodǐ 'on earth' (ANDL intensifier)", movementType := Typology.ExpressiveModifier.ANDLMovementType.independent }

theorem Fragments.Mandarin.Questions.daodi_is_independent : daodi.movementType = Typology.ExpressiveModifier.ANDLMovementType.independent

Daodi uses independent movement (not parasitic).

theorem Fragments.Mandarin.Questions.mandarin_wh_no_specCP : ¬whMechanism.ReachesSpecCP

Mandarin wh-in-situ does not involve movement to Spec-CP.

theorem Fragments.Mandarin.Questions.mandarin_wh_island_free : ¬whMechanism.IslandSensitive

Mandarin wh-in-situ is island-insensitive (binding, not movement).

def Fragments.Mandarin.Questions.question : Typology.Question.QuestionProfile

Mandarin question profile (WALS-grounded). Wh-in-situ, sentence-final question particle 吗 ma, polar via particle. @cite{chan-shen-2026}

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.