A Cognitive Study Of Negative Structure In Modern Chinese

This dissertation mainly focuses on the interpretation of the negative structure in the modern Chinese cognitive linguistics’ theory. To extend, several common Chinese negative structures were selected and discussed for the angel of Cognitive linguistics. Attempts to carry on thorough discussions detected it’s encompasses in the significance in Cognitive linguistics. This dissertation consists of eight chapters as following:Part 1 makes the prologue, including the incentive for the selection of the topic and the background thesis, briefly presenting theses related to cognitive linguistics, and reviewing the study of negative structure.Part 2 illustrates the Negative Polarity Structure“Neg+NPI”/”NPI+Neg”through the theory of Lexicalization.The structure is called“NPI”,“Fouding Jiyu(否定极语)”,for the following two reasons:Firstly,the structure is mainly in use or only used in negative forms.Secondly,it is not only limited to the word,but it varies form morphemes,words,phrases and idioms,etc.,because“Fouding Jiyu”(否定极语)often collocates with negative words,it is often placed side by side,forming lexical chunks which are then converted to a proper word.From cognition point of view,based on the principle of euphemism and politeness of the communication,the Negative Polarity Structure“Neg+NPI”/”NPI+Neg”can achieve results that cannot be achieved by direct expressions,and therefore is used in great quantities in the practical language use.Part 3 analyzes “Lian(连)+XP+dou/Ye(都/也)+Neg+VP”, through the Image Schema theory. This structure’s semantics will be analyze by the gestalt theory. On the whole, this structure has generalization negative. Component “XP” in this structure tends to have a common factor of expressing extremely small amount. Our research is focused on the relationship between this structure and the cognitive image schema theory, which can be referred as: the exterior-interior relationship. Only a small number conform to the characteristics of Chinese culture, and most conform to the characteristics that human begs have in common. In the cognition point of view, humanity holds a characteristic of such negation of an extremely small amount is equivalent to negating the total amount. Therefore this structure has a close relationship with cognitive reasoning and subjective mechanism.Part 4 explains the Quasi-fixed structure “Bu(不)X Bu(不)Y” in the perspectives of conceptualization, subjective and objective interactions of the Cognitive Linguistics. This structure’s ambiguity is the result of the cognitive subject’s conceptualization. On the one hand, due to “X” and “Y” relatively fuzzy semantics, has a great flexibility in use. On the other hand, because of the difference of cognitive subject to subjective grasp the objective things, and he role of the psychological expectation and other factors on human cognition, lead to these members in different context presents different emotional color. From the perspective of the acceptance mechanism of human cognition, “Bu(不)X Bu(不)Y” structure appears a lot more in modern Chinese, which is mainly a process of assimilation and accommodation. Due to the high compatibility, the structure of a host so as to make the kind of fixed phrase is possible. It is important to note that part of the members of an “X” and “Y” in the order of the relatively strict restrictions, and this kind of order embodies the iconicity on them with human cognition.Part 5 highlights the Prototype Categorization “Bu(不)+M+VP”, which is the modal verb of the Negative Structure. The main basis of judgment of modal verb negative structures should be by semantics, rather than any other forms of negative elements. The following typical modal verbs “neng(能)”, “hui(会)” and “yao(要)” have been selected as research targets, to discuss Chinese modal verb negative structures. From cognitive perspective, te ambiguity of “Bu(不)+M+VP” is closely related to the prototype category theory. One of their multiple meanings is regarded as a prototype, and then derived.Part 6 explains the De-categorization theory“V+Bu(不)+C”,which is the negative possibility complement structure.In this paper,the possible negative complement type“V+Bu(不)+C”is divided into three lower types,“v+不+c”,“v+不了”and“v+不得”for depth study.The definition to its main structure is“incapable despite to+v”,belongs to the dynamic modal.The modal meaning can be divided into three different types:the Dynamics Modality,Epistemic Modality and deontic Modality,where the prototype of the three members in the modal meaning are all different.In the long-term use,among the internal components of the structure“V+Bu(不)+C”occurs a division,where some of them are placed under intermediate states.Others are far away from the moral meanings of prototype,and there are regarded as‘freely moving’components.The standard is based on whether the modern Chinese dictionary has recognized it as a word or not,and the extent of whether the prototype moral meanings is weakened or disappeared.Their semantic integration degrees are very high.The main reason for their separation is a metaphor.Through metaphors,the semantics become more abstract.Part 7 discusses the meaning of the asymmetric shape of modern Chinese phenomenon from the perspective of genitive linguistics.Expressions such as“不一会儿”and“一会儿”,“小心别”and“小心”were selected as the main object of study“不”and“别”have close relationship with the subjectivity of the cognitive subject,they are a means to express the subjectivity of the cognitive subject.Part 8 concludes the dissertation.