A Multi-angle Study On The Network Popular Construction "Qian +X+ Quantity Phrase"

“Qian+X+quantity phrase”is a new popular network construction generated by the development of network language,which is used to express the subjectively weakening of quantity category in the statement of behavior or state.Literature review finds that the previous researches on this structure are not sufficient,and no one has used construction grammar theory to study it.Therefore,this paper is based on the existing network corpus.Using construction grammar theory,three plane grammar theory and cognitive linguistics theory,this paper makes a detailed analysis of“qian+X+quantitative phrases”from the perspectives of construction syntax,semantics,language usage,generation mechanism and popularity motivation by using multiple methods such as the combination of description and interpretation and quantitative and qualitative analysis.The structure of this paper is arranged as follows:Firstly,in the introduction,the research status and deficiencies of construction grammar theory,“qian”,quantitative phrase and construction“qian+X+quantitative phrase”are reviewed,and the research significance of construction“qian+X+quantitative phrase”is analyzed,as well as the research methods and corpus sources to be used in this paper.The first chapter firstly identified the construction of“qian+X+quantity phrase”.According to Goldberg’s construction theory,“qian+X+quantity phrase”was judged as a construction.Since the concept of network popular construction is not clearly defined in the academic circle at present,therefore,Based on the definition of network buzzwords by Liu Zengyuan,Qu Yishu and Huang Biyun,and the theory of popular constructions by Zhang Yisheng and Yang Lu,this paper finds that the construction of“qian+X+quantity phrase”accords with the definition of network buzzwords,popular constructions and Goldberg’s constructions at the same time.Therefore,it can be judged that“qian+X+quantity phrase”is a network popular constructions.Then it analyzes the syntax of the construction,namely the nature and access rules of“qian”“X”and“quantity phrase”.Finally,the syntactic function of the construction as well as the phenomenon of contraction,expansion and use of the construction are analyzed.“Qian+X+quantity phrases”can act as sentence elements or sentence clauses,and usually act as predicates when acting as sentence elements.When serving as a sentence component,it can be used as a preceding clause,a mid-sentence clause and a post-sentence clause.The second chapter analyzes the semantics of the construction“qian+X+quantitative phrase”,and analyzes the semantics of its constituent items“qian”,“X”and“quantitative phrase”respectively.In the construction,the invariant item“qian”has the subjective decrement meaning,the variable item X has the declarative meaning,and the variable item quantitative phrase has the short-term few meaning.Under the joint action of all the construction items,the whole meaning of the construction is greater than the sum of the partial meanings.And then analyze and deduce the whole construction meaning of“shallow+X+quantity phrase”.The third chapter makes a pragmatic analysis of the construction“qian+X+quantity phrase”,which has three main pragmatic functions:subjective expression function,interpersonal function and discourse function.Chapter four analyzes the generation mechanism and popular motivation of the construction“qian+X+quantity phrase”.The degree adverb“qian₁”is blurred into decrement mark“qian₂”and attached to“X a”.In the way of adding subjective decrement mark“qian₂”before“X a”,the expression of“qian+X a”is formed.Under the action of analogy mechanism,“quantity phrase”similar to“a”model enters the construction and has the same ambiguity.It becomes a modality marker with short and few meanings.By the two mechanisms of adding marker words and analogy,the construction“qian+X+quantity phrase”is produced.Influenced by the principle of language economy and the psychology of seeking difference and conformity,the construction becomes popular quickly.The last part is the conclusion.This paper summarizes the main conclusions and points out the shortcomings of the paper.The construction of“qian+X+quantitative phrase”is generated,popular and developed because of the Internet.Therefore,the study of this construction in this paper can reveal the usage of today’s language.At the same time,this paper also discusses the formation mechanism and development path of the construction of“qian+X+quantitative phrase”in order to deepen the study of modern Chinese construction grammar and provide a new research paradigm for the study of network language.In addition,the research on the construction meaning,discourse function and applicable context of“qian+X+quantity phrase”will provide practical help for foreign students to acquire this structure in teaching Chinese as a foreign language.