Locative Inversion and Aspect Markers le and zhe in Mandarin Chinese

Bresnan (1994), based on data in English and Chicheŵa, proposes that the discourse function of locative inversion construction (LIC) is presentational focus, in which the referent of the NP ‘is introduced or reintroduced on the (part of the) scene referred to by the preposed locative’. Pan (1996) suggests that the discourse function of LIC in Chinese is the same. In this paper, I investigate two different aspect markers zhe and le in LIC and argue that the different aspect markers occurring in LIC affect the discourse functions of the structure in Chinese. Only with the durative resultative marker zhe does the structure express presentational focus. When the perfective aspect marker le appears, however, its function is to comment on the scene referred to by the locative (Du, 1999). Evidence for this claim is provided by demonstrating the contrast between LIC with the two different aspect markers. In so doing, I also support the claim that the two aspect markers are fundamentally different, which is against the proposal by Sybesma (1997) where they are both categorized as resultative.