A Prototype Theory Approach To Markedness On Semantic Level

Markedness in language refers to certain asymmetries in a category (Shen Jiaxuan 1997). In a language system, there are many pairs of oppositions. Within the pairs, some items are more basic, natural, and common and with a wider usage;the other ones are more special, concrete and not commonly used. The former are called unmarked items, while the later marked ones. In linguistic studies, the concept of markedness was firstly introduced by phonologists Trubetzkoy and Jacobson of Prague School. Markedness theory is one of the most important theories of Structuralism. After that, it was widely applied to various linguistic research fields, such as phonetics, grammar, semantics, pragmatics and applied linguistics.Prototype category theory is a significant theory in cognitive linguistics. Differing entirely from the traditional category theory, prototype theory insists that category is formed through "family resemblance" among the members, not by the sufficient and necessary conditions. Therefore, prototype category is the category developed by way of analogy with good examples, which can be called prototype member, which have more resemblances or common attributes. And others which have fewer resemblances are peripheral members.From Structuralism of Prague School to Chomsky's generative linguistics, many linguists have made thorough studies on markedness in languages. Although the basic viewpoints are similar, various linguistic schools' understanding towards markedness reveals individual tendencies. Then can we understand markedness from the aspect of prototype theory in cognitive linguistics? This question has interested some linguists both home and abroad. This paper will explore markedness on semantic level, and the main concerns will lie in the three areas of English: adjective antonyms, gender nouns and polysemous words, and then proceed to interpret semantic markedness from the perspective of prototype theory. Accordingly, we can not only learn markednessmore profoundly under the framework of prototype category, but also get some implications in the fields of language transfer and vocabulary teaching as well.Based on the prototype category theory, this study proposes a cognitive approach for the analysis of markedness on semantic level. By analyzing word pairs and word meanings, the study will explore markedness on semantic level in the three areas and analyze this asymmetric phenomenon with prototype theory. We argue that markedness phenomena can be explained, at least in the three areas of adjective antonyms, gender nouns and polysemous words in English, by the prototype category theory. By analyzing semantic markedness in the three areas of English gradually, this study will examine prototype effects in the markedness patterns.This thesis consists of six chapters, including an introduction and a conclusion before and after the main body respectively.The introduction provides some preliminaries for the thesis. It explains the purpose and significance of the study and also its limitations. Finally, a general outline of the thesis has been made.The starting point of Chapter 2 is an account of the concept and criteria of markedness. It goes on to present studies done home and abroad respectively. At last, it points out the limitations if prior studies and finally proves the necessity of the present research.Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 constitute the main part of this study. In Chapter 3, the theoretical framework of this study is presented in detail. It includes the following issues: the modern theory of categorization—the prototype theory, the characteristics of prototype category, and prototype semantics. Chapter 4 is the discussion of validation of prototype effects on semantic markedness in English. The focus is mainly on cases in the three areas of adjective antonyms, gender nouns and polysemic words in English. The study indicates that, in the three areas of adjective antonyms, gender nouns and polysemous words, the prototype theory has a certain explanatory power for the phenomena of markedness. There areprototype effects in markedness patterns. And the asymmetric correlationships between the unmarked and the marked items are aroused by prototype effects.Chapter 5 presents the implications of the study for English teaching as well as the vocabulary learning. And also limitations of the present study and directions for future research are discussed.Finally, the last chapter is a conclusion of the whole study. And as to the future prospects of the thesis, we can widen our research scope by analyzing markedness at other levels of the language. A systematic study of markedness at every level of the language will completely reveal the nature of markedness.