The Cognitive-Semantic Analysis Of Figurative Classifier-Noun Structures In Mandarin Chinese

Classifiers, as a distinct feature of Sino-Tibetan languages, are employed widely and variously in modern mandarin Chinese. As for the origins of classifiers or the lexical items they most frequently collocate with, classifiers are closely related to nouns. In consequence, the studies of classifier-noun structures from different angles have been accumulating to a large amount till now. The increasing surge of cognitive linguistics has been generally promoting the research of classifier-noun structures from description to interpretation, providing a renewed perspective to language and cognition, and exploring the processing mechanisms of relevant linguistic phenomena.The basic form of Chinese classifier-noun structures is “numeral + classifier +noun”, which is composed in a cognitive-semantic compositional way. According to the standards of compositionality and semantic transparency, we identify figurative classifier-noun structures from literal ones. This thesis is the cognitive-semantic study of figurative classifier-noun structures based on cognitive semantics.In the tenets of cognitive semantics we see that there is no clear-cut demarcation between literal language and figurative language, and so is that of literal and figurative classifier-noun structures. As for figurative classifier-noun structures per se,the representative members metaphorical and metonymical classifier-noun structures are assumed to be different parts in the same semantic cline. To examine this assumption, we consider the emergent figurative meaning of classifier-noun structures as a consequence of re-categorization on semantic level, and then a round of discussion has been held via Conceptual Metaphor Theory, Conceptual Metonymy Theory, Conceptual Blending Theory and the Theory of Lexical Concepts and Cognitive Models(i.e. LCCM Theory).Metaphoric and metonymic models primarily interpret metaphorical and metonymical classifier-noun structures, but the bi-directional mappings between the nouns and classifiers can not be reflected, neither the nature of on-line meaning construction. Conceptual Blending Theory mirrors the specified interaction of the nouns and classifiers in real-time situations, which offsets those shortcomings. What is more, we also deploy LCCM Theory to make the cognitive compositional relation between the nouns and classifiers apparent and to show the interaction betweenlinguistic system and conceptual system from bottom to top. The comprehensive application of these theories draws out a more elaborated, multi-faceted and potent explanation for the cognitive-semantic analysis of figurative classifier-noun structures.