Three Conceptual Domains And Temporal Adverbs

This dissertation discusses the semantic of temporal adverbs in three conceptual domains:content domain, epistemic domain and speech-act domain. It includes seven chapters, whose contents are as follows.The first chapter is the introduction, which deals with these issues:the overview of temporal adverbs reseach, the determination of the object and the scope of the corpus, and the introduction of the main content of this dissertation as well as the theory and concepts involved.The second chapter to the sixth chapter respectively discusses the semantic of "yijing"(已经),"zheng"(正),"mashang"(马上) and"cai"(才) in three conceptual domains:content domain, epistemic domain and speech-act domain. First of all, the semantic of these adverbs is generalized in three conceptual domains. Next, the distribution of the adverbs expressing different meanings is observed in the law, the dialogue and the fiction. Then, the semantic extension is discussed under the perspective of diachronic research. At last, in order to find out the difference of the adverbs in the same kind,"yijing"(已经),"zheng"(正),"mashang"(马上) and "cai"(才) are respectively put into pre-time adverbs, co-time adverbs, past-time adverbs, pre-time and past-time adverbs, comparing with "zaoyf"(早已)and "zaojiu"(早就),"zai"(在) and "zhengzai"(正在),"like"(立刻) and "liji"(立即),"jiu"(就)The second chapter and the third chapter analyzes the semantic of "yijing"(已经) in three conceptual domains:content domain, epistemic domain and speech-act domain. Chapter one analyzes the semantic of "yijing"(已经) as well as its distribution and semantic extension.The third chapter explains the difference between "yijing"(已经) and other pre-time adverbs such as "zaoyp"(早已) and "zaojiu"(早就)."Yijing"(已经) can express meaning in two conceptual domains:content domain and epistemic domain. The meaning of "yijing"(已经) in content domain is that the action occurs before reference time, and there is an interval between the event time and the reference time. The meaning of "yijing"(已经) in epistemic domain is overbalance, that is to say, the current degree is higher than the expected one."Yijing"(已经) in epistemic domain can express the speaker’s evaluation of the higher degree."Yijing"(已经) in content domain can appear in the legal provisions, the dialogue and the novel, while "yijing"(已经) in epistemic domain can appear in the dialogue and the novel. The line of the semantic extension of "yijing"(已经) is as follows:original meaning (interval between two space)�'bjective meaning (interval between two times)�'subjective meaning (The difference between two level)"Zaoyi"(早已)"zaojiu"(早就) and "yijing"(已经) are all pre-time adverbs, while the meaning of "zaoyi"(早已) and "zaojiu"(早就) can only be expressed in epistemic domain.The fourth chapter analyzes the semantic of "zheng"(正) in three conceptual domains:content domain, epistemic domain and speech-act domain."Zheng"(正) can express meaning in three conceptual domains. The meaning of "zheng"(正) in content domain is that the action occurs just in a reference time. The meaning of "zheng"(正) in epistemic domain is coincidence, that is to say, the current degree is consistent with the expected one. The meaning of "zheng"(正) in speech-act domain is to describe the consistency of two kinds of speech acts."Zheng"(正) in content domain can appear in the legal provisions, the dialogue and the novel,"zheng"(正) in epistemic domain can appear in the dialogue and the novel, and "zheng"(正) in speech-act domain can only appear in the dialogue. The line of the semantic extension of "zheng"(正) is as follows:(?)objective meaning (the consistency of two time) directly derived meaning (erect)(?)subjective meaning (the consistency of two level)�'furthest derived meaning (the consistency of two speech-acts)"Zhengzai"(正在),"zai"(在) and "zheng"(正) are all co-time adverbs, while the meaning of "zhengza"(正在)and "zai"(在)can only be expressed in content domain.The fifth chapter analyzes the semantic of "mashang"(马上) in three conceptual domains:content domain, epistemic domain and speech-act domain."Mashang"(马上) can express meaning in two conceptual domains:content domain and epistemic domain. The meaning of "mashang"(马上) in content domain is to describe the instant contact between two actions. The meaning of "mashang"(马上) in epistemic domain is to express the speaker’s attitude towards the distance between the the event time and the reference time. Both"mashang"(马上) in content domain and "mashang"(马上) in epistemic domain can appear in the dialogue and the novel, while "mashang"(马上) in content domain tends to appear in the novel, and "mashang"(马上) in epistemic domain tends to appear in the dialogue. The meaning of "mashang"(马上) in epistemic domain has close contact with the original meaning, and the line of the semantic extension of "mashang"(马上) is as follows: original meaning(on horseback)�'objective meaning (short time)�'subjective meaning(instant)."Like"(立刻),"liji"(立即)and "mashang"(马上)are all past-time adverbs,"like"(立刻),"liji"(立即) can also be expressed in content domain and epistemic domain.The sixth chapter analyzes the semantic of "cai"(才) in three conceptual domains:content domain, epistemic domain and speech-act domain."Cai"(才) can express meaning in two conceptual domains:epistemic domain and speech-act domain. The meaning of "cai"(才) in epistemic domain is ullage, so the degree represented by the word hehind "cai"(才) is lower."Cai"(才) in epistemic domain can express the speaker’s evaluation of the lower degree. It can appear in the legal provisions, the dialogue and the novel. The meaning of "cai"(才) in speech-act domain is related to the sufficient conditions to realize the current speech act, and it can only appear in the dialogue. The line of the semantic extension of "cai"(才) is as follows:original meaning(the beginning of the vegetation)�'directly derived meaning (the initial)�'subjective meaning(short time interval�'the sufficient conditions to achieve a result)�'furthest derived meaning(the sufficient conditions to realize the current speech act)"Jiu"(就) and "cai"(才) are all pre-time and past-time adverbs, while in addition to be expressed in epistemic domain and speech-act domain,"jiu"(就) can also be expressed in content domain.The seventh chapter is the conclusion of this dissertation. It summarizes the conclusion, pointing out the innovation of this study, as well as some problems needed further study.