On High-quantity Degree Expressions In Contemporay Chinese

This dissertation focus on the high-quantity degree expressions in Mandarin and its corresponding questions.Chapter1provides a definition of high-quantity degree expressions and a brief research history on this topic. High-quantity degree expressions are marked by the degree of high-quantity degree adverbs, which can be divided into three categories: excess quantity, extreme quantity and high quantity. Besides high-quantity-degree adverbs, some non-word language forms or non-adverb degree forms are also discussed in the dissertation.Chapter2centers on the semantics of high-quantity degree expressions. There are two fundamental types of semantics:one derives from large quantity and the other from typicality. Some scholars have noticed the transition relationship between quantity and degree, pointed out that the difference of degree is the difference of quantity. The transitional basis between typicality and high-quantity degree lies in the distinctive feature, which acquires the feature of worthy of note because of the clue of pointing to, while worthy of note means a certain property of one object is higher than other objects.Chapter3addresses the matching model and syntactic features of high-quantity degree expressions. The high-quantity degree component is a determinant when functioning as an attribute and an adverbial modifier, while it has an evaluation functions when serving as a complement and a predicate. Serving as a kind of complements, in the form of binding and composing are two special syntactic functions of high-quantity degree.Chapter4discusses the typical form of high-quantity degree expressions-high-quantity degree adverb, which can be divided into excess quantity, extreme quantity and high quantity according to the degree of semantic, and into isolation, infusion and repetition according to structure patterns. Semantically, high-quantity degree adverb has the characteristics of mixing used. High-quantity adverb reflects the language instability, which lies in the frequent replacement of high-quantity adverb on diachronic level and the endless emerging of new usage.