Studies On Chinese Mood Category In Second Language Teaching

Based on grammatical error analysis of Chinese in second language teaching and the theory of semantic functional grammar, this dissertation studies several specific problems in Chinese mood category from syntactic, semantic and expressive levels. It analyzes several groups of language forms which are difficult for foreigners to understand from semantic and grammatical perspectives, discusses the syntactic, semantic and expressive differences of synonymous language forms, aiming to discover the compulsory and tendentious rules and conditions which are appropriate for language teaching. Meanwhile this paper attempts to explain the reasons for the differences by means of the theories of functional linguistics, cognitive linguistics, grammaticalization and subjectivisation. Emphasizing the combination of research results of semantic functional grammar and teaching practices of Chinese as a second language, this paper mainly focuses on the syntactic, semantic and functional differences of evidential modal particles "ma" and "bei", subjunctive modal particles "ba" and "ne", modal adverbs "xing kui" and "hao zai", "yuan lai" and "qi shi"The present research is composed of six chapters. Chapter one is a general introduction, providing the background, overview and theoretical rational of the topic and presenting the possible limitations of the study and suggestions for future research.Chapter two analyzes and compares the differences between evidential modal particles "ma" and "bei". Based on the other scholars'research results that both indicates the mood of obviousness and dissuasion, this study further points out that there are overlaps between the two particles, that is, both can indicate the confirmative mood of obviousness, but they have different core semantic mood. Semantically, "ma", with a stronger mood, emphasizes "obviousness in reason", implying the criticism and dissatisfaction to the listener and demanding the listener to act; "bei", with a weaker mood, stresses "unique situation, no something special", not necessarily asking the listener to act. Grammatically both can be used in declarative and imperative sentences, and "ma" can also be used in interrogative sentences and rhetorical questions, having more flexible combination with mood adverbs and co-occurrence with can-wish verbs. Functionally "ma" puts emphasis on "convincing with reason" while "bei'pays more attention to "indicating some situation". Besides, "ma" can be used as topic markers, indicating approval and affirmative in power relationship, and coquetry and capriciousness in intimate relationships, which shows that "ma" has more mood types than "bei" and which also results in the higher frequency in use of "ma". Both "ma" and "bei" can be used in conversational and colloquial styles such as novels, proses, dramas, talks and cross-talks.Chapter three explores the modal particles "ba" and "ne" in complex sentences of suppositional relation. "Ba" and "ne" do not independently denote suppositional mood, but signify pause, clear-cut bounds of the two causes of suppositional complex sentences while the suppositional meaning is shown through suppositional conjunctions, suppositional modal particles "de hua" and suppositional parallel structures. The study shows that "ba" is more used in two suppositional contexts whereas "ne" is more used in single suppositional clauses; more suppositional conjunctions are used in "ne" suppositional causes than in "ba" causes; predicates in "ne" causes are more likely nonvolitional verbs whereas those in "ba" causes are more inclined to be volitional verbs, which is constrained by their respective suppositional semantic focus; the linguistic components of co-occurrence of "ne" and "ba" clauses are different as well:"ba" suppositional complex sentences mainly indicates "to be in a dilemma, to have no choice" with the function of subjective supposition, while "ne" suppositional complex sentences denotes the outcomes of objective supposition with the function of objective inference. Generally speaking, in the language materials of same number of characters, there are more "ne" clauses than "ba" ones and most "ba" clauses can be replaced by "ne" ones. Meanwhile, the appropriate syntactic conditions for substitution of "ba" and "ne" have also been explained. This chapter concludes that the semantic connotation, syntactic features and expressive functions of suppositional complex sentences with modal particles "ba" and "ne" depend on their different basic semantic mood and evidentiality: the former's basic mood is uncertainty and appease while the latter's basic mood is certainty and assuredness.Chapter four compares and contrasts the similarities and differences of modal adverbs "xing kui" and "hao zai" which are almost synonymous and easy to be used wrongly by intermediate and advanced second language learners. The similarities of the two are:semantically both indicate advantages and favorable conditions; syntactically both cannot be used independently and can appear in same syntactic positions. The differences of the two are:"xing kui" means the advantages which are subjectively thought by the speaker to come about by accident, to be unexpected, and in semantic patterns "unfavorable consequences resulting from the absence of advantages" are prominent; "hao zai" conveys the advantages which are subjectively thought by the speaker to be habitually present, to be expected, and in semantic patterns what is prominent is the favorable consequences resulting from advantages. Moreover, the advantages "hao zai" can express are emotionally positive or negative and modally realis or unrealis whereas those "xing kui" denotes are only positive and realis.Chapter five points out similarities and differences between the modal adverbs "yuan lai" and "qi shi".The similarity exists in the following contents which they connect are actual situations. The differences of the two is:the modal adverb "yuan lai" which means "suddenly enlighted" came from the time noun of "yuan lai",related with time factor; while the modal meaning of "qi shi" is connected with attributive compound "qi shi",pointing out real, natural condition, and the truth of matter. The semantic general character of these two words causes the confusion for the foreign students, and the modal differences between them lead to respectively different syntax performance and expressive function. In the syntax, the co-occurence between those two words and modal particles centralizes in the dialogue, and this is the request of expressing the interactive subjectivity in the use of modal particles.The co-occurrence modal particles for "yuan lai" is "ah", and for "qi shi" are "ah", "ne", "ba", "ya", "na", "ma", and so on. Most of the co-occurrence modal adverbs category for "yuan lai" are designating, characteristic and natural, and exclamatory categories; while most of the co-occurrence modal adverbs for "qi shi" are sub-categories such as judging, confirming, and doubtful categories. There are similarities and differences between the co-occurrences of the two words.Modal adverb'yuan lai'commonly used in declarative sentences and exclamatory sentences, while "qi shi" is used in declarative sentences, and in some rare situations such as rhetorical questions, exclamatory sentences, and imperative sentences; Both of them cannot be used in "yes or no" question, since they all point out actual situations. "Qi shi" is always used in emphasis sentences like "shi...de", and "yuan lai" is always used in adjudgement sentence whose verb is "shi" "qi shi" can be followed with the non-realistic sentences like postulate sentences or conditionals; "yuan lai" can not be followed with non-realistic sentences.The modal meaning of "suddenly enlighted" for "yuan lai" results in the words with meaning of short time, punctual action or unexpected matter in context. For "qi shi", the modal meaning of the negation of above leads to some words or negative adverbs with meaning as estimating, surface appearance, indistinct subjective speculation, common sense above.According to semantic decision function, we summarize the functions of "yuan lai" and "qi shi" respectively as the indication reason and the negation in preceding text.This chapter analyzed the substitution condition of "yuan lai" and "qi shi" finally.When both words are in negative sentences, or with recognize-meaning verbs above, they can be changed with each other, but the words are still emphasized on different modal. "Yuan lai" can not be changed to "qi shi" in following circumstances such as being in exclamatory sentences, next to interrogative sentences, with words which means short time, punctual action or unexpected adverbs, and being in some fixed adjudgement sentence."Qi shi" is tended to be used in disjunctive compound sentences.