Nominalization And Verbalization In Contemporary Chinese:A Cognitive Linguistic Inquiry

This dissertation, from the perspective of cognitive linguistics, targets the categorial shift between verb and noun in contemporary Chinese, or nominalization and verbalization. There are altogether 8 chapters, comprising the theoretical framework, the 6 chapters of the analysis proper and the conclusion.Chapter i discusses the theoretical framework on which this study is based, pointing out the contradictions and deficiency of the preceding studies on the categorial shift issue, analyzing critically the theoretical basis of the traditional structuralism, and elucidating the fundamental concepts and viewpoints of the adopted theories of cognitive linguistics.Chapter 2 discusses in detail the specific theoretical model applied to the description and interpretation of the categorial shift between verb and noun, which is labeled as the cognitive model of 'conceptual metonymy', comprising the constituents of such concepts as cognitive frame, activation, and salience.Chapter 3 to 5 discuss the nominalization of verb. Chapter 3 defines the categories of noun and verb from the standpoint of cognitive grammar, with a focus on the conceptual asymmetry of the two concepts, pointing out that the categorial shift between verb and noun is essentially a conceptual metonymy. This chapter also offers a comprehensive summary and an interpretation of verbal nominalization using the metonymy model. Chapter 4 dwells on the conditions of legitimate use of 'N $J V, a typical construction of verbal nominalization. With a further elucidation of the ideas of cognitive framework and salience, this chapter argues that this construction builds up a psychological connection to the target through a cognitive entity called reference point. Chapter 5 discusses verbs occurring in the grammatical slot of object, managing to prove the co-variation between the semantics of the main verb on one hand, and the autonomy of the verbs serving as object on the other, and also to prove that the loss of verb's autonomy is closely related to its nominalization. It also proves that verbal nominalization is a phenomenon of differing degrees.Chapter 6 offers a comprehensive description and a summary of verbalization, with an interpretation using the metonymy model.Chapter 7 focuses on the asymmetries in the categorial shift between verb and noun, pointing out that these asymmetries are rooted in the conceptualasymmetry of verb and noun.Chapter 8 is the conclusion of this study, with remarks of the problems requiring further research.