A Cognitive Approach To Chinese Metaphorical And Metonymical Noun-Noun Compounds Based On Reference Point Theory

From the perspectives of conceptual structures and ways of cognition, this dissertation makes a cognitive investigation of metaphorical and metonymical construals of Chinese noun-noun compounds on the basis of the theory of Idealized Cognitive Models and Reference Point Theory. It is argued that the process of interpreting Chinese metaphorical and metonymical noun-noun compounds (CMMNNC) is actually the cognition of one concept with reference to another.This dissertation addresses four questions: (1) What are the motivations for metaphorical and metonymical construals of Chinese noun-noun compounds? (2) What are the manners of metaphorical and metonymical construals of Chinese noun-noun compounds? (3) What is the conceptual basis for interpreting CMMNNC? and (4) What is the process of interpreting CMMNNC?We propose the following viewpoints based on a quantitative investigation of 2206 CMMNNC in A Dictionary of Contemporary Chinese (the 5th edition). (1) Metaphorical construals exceed metonymical construals in number; (2) Similarities in appearance and function are most frequently adopted in metaphorical construals of Chinese noun-noun compounds. (3) Transferred designation between elements of an action ICM is the most frequently adopted pattern with respect to metonymical construals of Chinese noun-noun compounds; (4) We are inclined to make N1N2 an integrated concept designating one thing rather than make it a juxtaposition of two concepts designating two things; (5) We are inclined to choose the compounding pattern based on the modifying relation between N1 and N2 rather than the compounding pattern based on the parallel relation between them; and (6) We are inclined to determine designations of CMMNNC based on N2 rather than determine their designations based on N1 or based on the juxtaposition of N1 and N2.According to different ways of metaphorical and metonymical construals, CMMNNC are classified into metaphorical noun-noun compounds, metonymical noun-noun compounds and metaphtonymic noun-noun compounds. The major findings of this investigation are as follows:(1) The motivations for metaphorical and metonymical construals of Chinese noun-noun compounds are the relational mismatch between N1 and N2 and the mismatch between meaning and context. In order to establish the association between N1 and N2 and that between meaning and context, listeners need to make semantic accommodation by means of conceptual metaphor and conceptual metonymy.(2) ICMs are the conceptual foundation for interpreting CMMNNC. To be specific, salient features of concepts, conceptual similarities or contiguities, as well as conventional relationships, are the conceptual basis for interpreting CMMNNC. For example, for xuě-huā(snow-flower, snowflake), we cannot establish a direct relation between xuěand huā, therefore semantic accommodation is needed. Because a flower's shape is salient, and it matches snow, the listener construes huāmetaphorically, that is to say, xuěmetaphorically describes the shape of huā. In this way, we establish the relation between xuěand huā.(3) The cognitive mechanism of interpreting CMMNNC is the cognition of one concept with reference to another. Langacker's Reference Point Theory provides a potentially powerful model for explaining the interpretation of CMMNNC. There are three kinds of reference point activities with regard to the interpretation of CMMNNC, that is,a) The direct reference model. According to this model, we have direct access to a target by means of a reference point. One is that N1 is regarded as a reference point to provide mental access to the target N2 or N2 is regarded as a reference point to provide mental access to the target N1. For example, for shàn-bèi (fan-shellfish, scallop), as a reference point, shàn provides mental access to the target, bèi. The other is the two reference point model. To be specific, as two reference points, N1 and N2 provide mental access to the target(s) in parallel. For example, for yǔ-yì(feather-wing, assistant), yǔand yìfacilitate flying, because of the salience of this functional feature, both are regarded as reference points to provide mental access to the same target, the person who assists.b) The chain-like reference model. According to this model, interpreting CMMNNC involves two linked reference point activities, and the target of the first reference point activity serves as the reference point of the second reference point activity. For example, for qiú-mén (ball-gate, goal), in the first reference point activity, qiúfunctions as a reference point to provide mental access to the target, ball game. The first reference point activity is realized through the conceptual metonymy of OBJECT FOR ACTION. Then the target of the first reference point activity, ball games, serves as a reference point of the second reference point activity to provide mental access to the target mén. The second reference point activity is realized through the metaphor of interpreting goals in terms of gates.c) The step-by-step reference model. According to this model, the interpretation of CMMNNC involves two related reference point activities, and the first activity is the basis for the second one. For example, for hóng-máo (swan goose-feather, swan goose's feather), in the first reference point activity, hóng functions as a reference point to provide mental access to the target, máo, accordingly, hóng-máo means swan goose's feather. In the second reference point activity, swan goose's feather serves as a reference point to provide mental access to the target, insignificant things.