The Syntactic Derivation of Chinese Long Bei-Passives: A Comparison of Null Operator Analysis, Focus Analysis, and Analysis under Labeling Theory

Abstract

The syntactic derivation of Chinese long bei-passives is central to generative grammar. Three major frameworks exist: null operator analysis, focus analysis, and Labeling Theory analysis. Within the Minimalist Program, this study compares the first two approaches and supplements them with Labeling Theory, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. The null operator analysis accounts for the agent’s syntactic status via co-reference between the initial NP and the verb’s empty object, but overuses unsupported empty categories and violates economy. The focus analysis unifies derivation through EF-driven cross-phase movement in line with Chinese information structure, yet incorrectly treats the initial NP as a non-argument focus, contradicting subject tests and speaker intuitions. By contrast, Labeling Theory uses minimal search and feature agreement to reduce theoretical redundancy, maintains the initial NP as a structural subject, and explains cross-linguistic variation in passives principledly. Overall, the three accounts complement one another: the null operator analysis laid early foundations, focus analysis stresses information-structural constraints, and Labeling Theory better satisfies minimalist principles. Combining them can strengthen the theoretical explanation of Chinese passives.