A Study On The Dimensional Category Of Chinese Nominal Classifiers

This dissertation mainly explores the dimensional category of nominal classifiers in modern Chinese and puts them into the perspective of dimensional category.This dissertation is divided into eight chapters.The purpose of this research is to analyze the dimensional categories of Chinese nominal classifiers,and divide them into point,linear,planar and stereoscopic ones.We will explain the dimensional attribute of Chinese classifiers,and points out that the dimension of classifiers is not uniform,so it can be regarded as category to be discussed.Yet some classifiers in specific are relatively vague in dimension and situated on the periphery of a particular dimensional category.In addition,the teaching of Chinese classifiers for foreign students has always been one of the difficulties in Chinese teaching.This dissertation compares the structure of "num.-classfier-n." in Chinese with the structure of "a N1 of N2" in English,which has similar functions,aims to provide a feasible idea for the teaching of classifiers in Chinese as a foreign language.The main innovations of this dissertation are:Ⅰ The analysis of nominal classifiers is carried out from the aspect of dimensional category,and it is considered that the dimensional category of some nominal classifiers is vague,which can be regarded as between two dimensional categories,rather than belonging to a single category as thought by existing research.In addition,some classifiers are more grammaticalized and modify abstract things more in "num.-classfier-n." structure,and the dimensional category reflected by them is relatively less obvious.Ⅱ We were still been lack of analysis of dimensional category in the past research on the classifiers of Chinese dialects,while our achievements have already been rich.This paper chooses four representative Chinese dialects in Chapter 5,discussing the dimensional categories of all kinds of nominal classifiers in Chinese dialects,and comparing them with the nominal classifiers in Mandarin.We believe that although there are some differences between the nominal classifiers in dialect and Putonghua in dimensional category,they still have broad commonality.There is no quantifier in English,however,the structure "a N1 of N2" exists,and its function is similar to Chinese "num.-classfier-n." format.Both can represent a certain dimension category,so we can make an analogy of them,and appropriate words can also be used in their translation.Ⅲ Number,classifier and noun are closely related in "num.-classfier-n." structure of Chinese,but adjunctives can also be inserted in and set as “num.-adj.-classifier-n”structure.In the past,however,there has been little research in this area.This dissertation will discuss the nouns and classifiers in two kinds of “num.-adj.-classifier-n” format,and conclude the restrictive factors of classifiers and nouns entering the "num.-adj.-classifier-n." structure,mainly include the following:(1)the semantic features of classifier and noun;(2)Whether the noun modified is bounded;(3)the priority of modification given to noun(central word)when qualitative adjectives are used as attributes;(4)people’s subjective cognitive factors;(5)the characteristics of meaning of the classifier itself;(6)Contextual factors.Ⅳ This dissertation will set a single category of partially classifiers which modify the building or the human body,and hold the idea that the things that these classifiers describe are all "hollow",so they can be regarded as "hollow classifiers".This sort of classifiers mainly includes “jian,dong1,suo,zhuang,qiang”(“间、栋、所、幢、腔”).In terms of the dimensions of the things that are being modified,these words can be classified as a solid quantifier,but the things modified by them are mainly buildings,which are different from those cubic classifiers: they are hollow inside.Therefore these quantifiers can be classified in a separate category.In terms of research methods,this paper mainly adopts diachronic and synchronic ways.While discussing the synchronic collocation of various nominal classifiers,we also analyze the diachronic development and evolution process of nominal classifiers.Combining with the research results in synchronic field,the semantic characteristics of the nouns modified by each nominal classifier and the degree of grammaticalization of each nominal classifier are finally obtained,which can provide evidence for the attribution of nominal classifiers in dimensional category.We have further clarified the process of the development and evolution of nominal classifiers through the diachronic study,and we have also explained the causes of the gradual development and evolution of nominal classifiers: The gradual expansion of collocation wears away the original meaning of nominal classifier and thus leads to the grammaticalization of them,therefore,the dimensional category that embody by this classifiers is not obvious.In the conclusion part of this dissertation,various restrictive factors of the dimension of Chinese nominal classifiers are obtained:(1)the internal constraints of language,including the dimensional category and semantic features of the modified NP,and the retention of the original meaning of the quantifier;(2)The external constraints of language,include people’s cognition of objective dimensions,regional differences in dialects,and the influence of specific contexts.