Discourse-based Modern Chinese "VP Of NP" Construction

“NP 的 VP”, which is a typical Chinese language structure, has been under discussion for a century. The current studies are focused on two aspects: one is to study the formation and syntactic nature of the structure itself; the other is the lexical functions of the structure. This thesis deeply studied this structure, beginning with meta language theory, combined with chapter analysis method. It is believed that “NP的 VP” is premise argument of meta language usage. In this structure, V is the result of meta language argument, which is added one referring meaning after the quote, but does not change the verbal gender before or after the quote. The reason for this structure is chapter antecedent in pragmatics. In the meanwhile, the study of this structure from the perspective of chapter can break the limit by static study, i.e.regardless of context, analyze the relationship between context and “NP 的 VP”;moreover, the relationship between syntactic position and “NP 的 VP” can be further studied by comparing “NP 的 VP” in subject and object.The thesis is consisted of seven chapters including introduction and conclusion.Chapter one is introduction, which states the purpose and aim of this study, the current study in and out of home, and the main investigation methods.Chapter two is theoretical part, which introduces the logic philosophical and linguistic definition of meta language. According to the theory, the meta language can be separated to semantics meta language and pragmatics meta language. The former is focused on definition function for “objective language”, while the latter is an auxiliary language serving for network outside of semantics. The chapter also compares the relationship between meta language and meta communication. The application of meta language in Chinese language grammar study is also described and analyzed.Chapter three studies the relationship between “NP 的 VP” in subject and the premise argument. First, “NP 的 VP” can be consisted of specialized part and generalized part; while if limited by meaning, it can be consisted of antecedent partand outward part. Based on the relationship among VP and premise argument verbs or verbal expressions, antecedent can be explained in three ways : copying type,replacing type and releasing type. Outward can be explained by network background and knowledge background according to context. “NP 的 VP” of antecedent and the premise argument exist in certain network background, “NP 的 VP” of our ward is specialized, has the nature of quote meta language, while premise argument exists in common knowledge background, in this case the outward is gernalized.To add, this chapter also analyzes the meta language nature of “NP 的 VP” in antecedent, in the meanwhile an explanation was given to the defining factors of yes or no for the matter which is defined by “NP 的 VP”.Chapter four mainly studies the discourse type of “NP 的 VP” in object.According to whether or not count on premise argument, the “NP 的 VP” can be divided into two parts : dependent type and independent type. “NP 的 VP”independent of premise argument is divided into two categories : restricted and unrestricted, based on whether the sentence for predicative verbs have choice limit.By analyzing the explicit and implicit relationships between VP and premise argument independent “NP 的 VP”, as well as choices of verbs for independent and unrestricted“NP 的 VP” and other problems of the extent, it was concluded they share a relationship with chapter three, in descending order from left to right: no premise,unlimited> no premise but limited> premised and recalled.Chapter five studies the “NP 的 VP” consisted by monosyllables based on the real cases. Different from before, the transitive monosyllables verb can also be regarded as “VP of NP”. In the cases studied, “NP 的 VP” formed by monosyllables verbs can be divided into four categories according to the structure of VP :monosyllables single verbs, monosyllables verb+ object, monosyllables verb +complement, and many monosyllables verbs used continuously. The VP structure by monosyllables single verbs can be divided into five sub-categories according to the verb dependent extent on other structures or context; verb object acting as VP can be divided into two parts according to the grammar nature of object;multi-monosyllables verbs used continuously as VP can be divided into two partsaccording to meanings. Based on description, the reason for the difference by structure is given: reconciliation between multi-meaningful verbs with and definitive expression, influences by verbal coordination and pragmatics driven antecedent.Chapter six mainly does chapter study by“NP的VP”by negative VP,which explains the confining factors for negative adverbs before VP from the chapter perspective.This chapter studies“NP的没(有)VP”as subject or object and relationship between“NP的不VP”and premise argument,separately,and analyzes the difference between“没(有)”and“不”in“NP的VP”,so as to reveal the grammar nature of the two.The fundamental point of view is that in this structure,the“没(有)VP”and“不VP”share the quote meta language nature.“NP的没(有)VP”is highly dependent on text,which is highly temporary,and both subject and object are antecedent of premise argument;while“NP的不VP”is the major negative form of“NP的VP”,and the information are different for matters referred by either subject or object.Sometimes“NP的没(有)VP”can be replaced by“NP的不VP”,which is one-way,i.e.the former can only be replaced by the latter,not the vice versa.Chapter seven is the conclusion of the whole paper.This thesis is innovative in that it is based on large amount of real cases, and gives detailed description and analysis on “NP 的 VP” under the text background. The meta language theory is introduced to give a proper explanation, combined with pragmatics to analysis the principle to reveal the hidden reason. It has opened a new path for future study of “NP 的 VP”.