A Corpus-based Cognitive-functional Approach To Nominalized V-ING Construction

As one pattern of nominalization, V-ing construction has been studied fromperspectives varying from syntactic, transformational-generative, systemic-functionaland cognitive, by focusing on rank change, transformation, function and semanticnature respectively. However, studies haven’t been done on the explanation to thestructural or functional changes of nominalized V-ing construction based on itssemantic alternation. Therefore, this thesis endeavors a cognitive-functional approachto nominalized V-ing construction, aiming to reveal the cognitive mechanism for thefunctions different types of the constructions serve in discourses.Combining cognitive grammar and functional grammar, this study employs aqualitative method to analyze the relation among the internal function, semanticnature and external function of nominalized V-ing constructions with instances mainlyfrom BBC news data. The constructions are first classified into simple type andhigher-order type nominalization according to their difference in realizing internalfunctions (i.e. type specification, instantiation, quantification and grounding). Then,the alternation of semantic nature (including profiling, primary epistemic concern,degree of conceptual dependence and mode of cognitive processing) involved in eachtype is expounded. At last, the external functions (i.e. ideational, interpersonal andtextual) served by different types of constructions in discourses, are elucidated withthe corresponding cognitive mechanism.It can be observed that cognitive-functional approach to linguistic phenomenaprovides a new perspective for discourse analysis, which makes semantic nature andfunctions a coherent system, namely, the symbolization of internal functions dependson the semantic nature, and the alternation and comparison of the semantic natureresult in the external functions. Through the enunciation of semantic nature, a muchdeeper insight into the functions of different constructions can be gained, which helpsin the understanding and using of different types of nominalized V-ing constructions.