English-chinese Meta-language Study

Since metalanguage theory was advanced by A. Tarski, it has always been restrained in philosophical study. Professor Li Baojia takes the initiative in distinguishing between the logical and the linguistic metalanguages and classifies the linguistic metalanguage into three categories, which are vocabulary metalanguage for daily communication, defining metalanguge for dictionary compilation, and semantic metalanguage for lexical analysis.Based on that classification, this study is made up of three sections. The first is the compilation of English vocabulary metalanguage and comparison with the Chinese version; the second is a contrastive study between Chinese and English defining metalanguages and the last is a preliminary exploration of the semantic metalanguage.First of all, the system of vocabulary metalangue with 2634 items is compiled by combining various wordlists, and tested in width and depth to prove its completeness. It is concluded the 2634 words can meet the basic requirement of daily communication. Then the contrast between English and Chinese metalanguages is made and it reveals that 90% of the two systems correspond with each other in spite of their differences in vocabulary choice in such subjects as politics, economy, law and religion. Then the defining vocabulary of Longman Contemporary Dictionary and Modern Chinese Dictionary are compared, with the conclusion that they have 85% in common, even though they differ partially, since English and Chinese reflect different culture and tradition, vary in lexical combination and usage and defining feature and style. Finally a preliminary study is made on semantic metalanguage through the analysis of 14 self-motion verbs. With a combination of semantic feature analysis, prototype theory and Frame Semantics, the author points out that semantic metalanguage consists of two parts. One is conceptual feature, reflecting the paradigmatic relation, the other is collocational feature, reflecting the syntagmatic relation. These two features interact with each other and supplement each other, which makes the dynamic study of lexical semantics possible.The three matalanguages depend on each other, representing the three stages of metalangue study, all used to explain the object language. The respective study of the three metalanguages indicates they differ in main function, semantic reflection, potential user, form, and scale.