Research On Light Verb System In Modern Chinese

This dissertation builds a light verb system framework of the Chinese language and a grammar model which operates based on the system. The generating process of simple verbs, compound verbs, verb phrases and a quantity of relevant sentence patterns in modern Chinese are analyzed via the framework to provide a explanation mechanism for the associations between some superficial language phenomena together with underlying lexical and syntactic structure in Chinese. The concept of Light Verb is further developed and its nature, function, category and operation mechanism are specifically discussed to deepen our understanding about verb phrases, generating process of sentences and the mode of grammar structure in the Chinese language.The dissertation consists of four parts with eight chapters:The introduction:Chapter one. Firstly, the concept of light verb used in traditional language study, generative grammar and the research of Chinese are introduced. Then, based on reviews on related researches, the main hypothesis of this dissertation comes up:Interior verb is structuring and could be analyzed. The root, semantic light verb and syntactic light verb are combined to one complete verb, the latter two constituting a light verb system functioned by different structure levels. This system is the core of the generation and structure of verb phrases in Chinese. Next, the theoretical frame and research methods applied in this dissertation will be presented, together with chapter arrangement and general framework of the whole article.Grammar model and construction of the light verb system:Chapter two to chapter four. At the beginning, we build a modular grammar model centered on lexicon and syntax. On this basis, the necessity and feasibility of separation between semantic light verb and syntactic light verb. Then, the nature, category, function and operation process and pattern of these two categories are analyzed in detail. At last, the purpose is to build a operable light verb system framework, which consists of two parts:semantic light verb is the semantic entity, serving as the core predicative function in lexical conception structure. It can assignment thematic roles and introduces semantic variable elements into the structure. Different semantic light verb bear different semantic features and structure building function and various semantic manipulations can be achieved through combination or nesting among them, thus to determine basic generating position of each constituent in syntactic structure. On the other hand, syntactic light verb is a functional head in syntactic structure, possessing independent formal features and many functions. It can perform further operation towards bottom structure, affecting legality of verb phrases structure and superficial word order, in short, the syntactic light verb is a vital formal entity in syntactic operation. The light verb system finally decides the superficial form of verb phrases structure via its operation.Data confirmation and analysis of Chinese language phenomena:Chapter five to chapter seven. Relying on the Chinese language data, this dissertation probes into the building functions of the light verb system in general verbs, compound verbs, verb phrases and a quantity of relevant sentence patterns in modern Chinese. And new analysis and explanations are provided for relative language phenomena in Chinese, which has verified that light verbs is the core entity projected from semantics to syntactic building verbs and verb phrases. All kinds of operations which are important to the formation of the structure are performed centering on light verbs. Different light verbs interact and interrelate to go on systematic coordinated operation, jointly composing an ensemble. Therefore, the research on the light verb system offered a new hypothesis and thinking mode for a deeper insight of the nature of Chinese verbs’ structure.Conclusion:Chapter eight. The light verb system, its operation mechanism build in this dissertation and conclusions reached through Chinese data analysis with the help of this framework are concluded. In addition, defects and problems which need further studying are stated.