Exploring Applicatives in Rukai

[[abstract]]This paper attempts to investigate applicatives in Rukai, a Formosan language, by examining distinct thematic roles marked by the oblique marker ki. This paper argues that (i) the ki-marked thematic roles are in fact applied arguments in applicatives; (ii) the (a)symmetries in the passive are due to A-movement properties that can be accounted for by the phased-based approach (Chomsky 2001; McGinnis 2001, 2002); (iii) Rukai’s inventory of applicative heads houses at least ApplHBenefactive, ApplLSource, ApplLRecipient, ApplHGoal, ApplHMalefactive, and ApplHReason; and (iv) Chen’s (2008) tripartite distinction of grammatical voice (e.g., the active/passive/object voice) in Rukai is doubtful.[[fileno]]204_JA07_2009_v5_p73[[department]]語言學研究