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Macau Periodical Index (澳門期刊論文索引)
- Author
- Song, Jiang
- Title
- An embodied construction grammar approach to the semantic overlap of Chinese classifiers: the case of tiao and dao
- Journal Name
- 澳門語言學刊
- Pub. Info
- 2016年12月, 總第48期, 第2期, 第91-106頁
- Keyword
- Tiao；Dao；Classifier, semantics；Embodies Cognitive Grammar(ECG)
- Abstract
- Embodied Cognitive Grammar(ECG) is a recently-developed theory of the conceptual distinctions necessary to account for language phenomena. The article applies ECG to formularize the semantic representation for Chinese classifiers with semantic overlaps. Using Chinese classifiers tiao and dao as a case study, this paper first sorts semantic categories of the tiao and dao and identifies the cognitive motivations for their extensions. The discussion of semantic categories and their motivations to form the categories indicate that the linguistic behavior of Chinese classification constructions is predetermined by its semantic properties and interaction between the semantic categories of the classifiers and their associated noun phrases. It argues that the semantic overlap between tiao and dao is in a continuum ranging from salient to fuzzy. The analysis of tiao and dao through the ECG approach reveals crucial semantic properties and internal categorical relations for Chinese classifier phase. Itconcludes that ECG formulism is a powerful tool in integrating various conceptual analyses and presenting cognitive constraints in a comprehensive and systematic manner. Paragraph Headings： 1. Introduction 2. Historical development of tiao 3. Tiao as a noun 4. Semantic extensions of tiao as a classifier 4.1. Extension from the ‘twig’sense of tiao 4.2. Extensions from the 'line' sense of tiao 4.2.1. physical thread, string and line 4.2.2. vein, grain, and wrinkle 4.2.3. mark, scar and wound left by a knife-cut, whip, ect. 4.2.4. seam, crack and crevice 4.2.5. rope, chain and cable 4.3. Extension from the 'strip' sense of tiao 4.3.1. band, ribbon and belt and their further extensions 4.3.2. various long objects 4.3.3. long shapes in landscape and mountain ranges 4.3.4. river, watercourse and pipeline 4.3.5. rode, path and way 4.4. Extension from the written 'item' and 'article' sense of tiao 4.5. Extension to humans, animals and their body parts. 5. The schematic overlap between tiao and dao 5.1. Static vs. dynamic 5.2. Discrete vs. continuum 5.3. Concrete vs. abstract 5.4. Flexibility vs. rigidity 6. ECG representation of tiao and dao 7. Conclusion Tables： 1. Categorical semantic overlap between Tiao and Dao 2. The tiao construction 3. The dao construction