The Linguistic Research Of Gradation And Norm Theories

The gradation and norm are two categories which reflect the law of unity of opposites in nature and human society. They are existent forms of the objective world. These forms are reflected by the human consciousness and expressed by language. Some gradations and norms expressed by verbal means are only subjective phenomena lying in the speaker's mind. Based on the language level, this dissertation deals with the gradation and norm meanings of linguistic units.The gradation refers to the scalar opposition between the members of the same categories. This kind of scalar opposition reflects the differences in quantity, degree, and rank of things. However, the meaning of gradation of the language system shows not only the diversities of features of things, but also the distinctions of the semantic strength of utterances. The norm is always talked in contrast with the deviation from norm (or abnormality). They are mutually dependent and inseparable. Essentially the norm is, on the one hand, the subject's reflection of the objective world, on the other hand, mental orientator for human beings in the process of cognizing the objective world. The norm is a superordinate notion which includes many subordinate types. The dissertation classifies norm into three types -- qualitative norm, evaluative norm and norm of state of affairs, and gives a demonstration of them in the light of language facts. The dissertation makes a systematical research on the ubiquitous meanings of gradation and norm in languages, makes a comprehensive analysis of verbal means to express the gradation and norm meanings with the special statement of such typical means as adjectives, particles, and conjunctions. In proving the viewpoints, many issues which are closely related to the concepts of gradation and norm have been discussed. They are the scales, oppositions, symmetry, markedness and negation, etc.The dissertation believes that the concepts of gradation and norm universally exist in the consciousness of the nations speaking different languages and from different cultural backgrounds. But in term of concrete things and phenomena, the signification of gradation and norm can vary according to the nationalities and individuals. The activities of consciousness based on the gradation and norm concepts are basic cognitive models of human beings. Knowing and reforming the world by means of grading and norm is the primary characteristics of human mind activities.Summarizing the researches of the domestic and foreign academic world on the issues of gradation and norm, the dissertation puts forward its own opinions and arguments and proves the feasibility and necessity for establishing the Gradation and Norm theories with abundant facts. The establishment of these theories broadens the study space of the semantics, develops the current theories of cognitive linguistics, and has great significance for improving the theoretical system of linguistics and guiding the language teaching and research practice.