A Research On The Ontology Of Locative Words In Mandarin Chinese And Its Application In 2nd Language Teaching

Locative Words are of a special category in modern Mandarin Chinese. In terms of categorization, definition, scope, meaning and functions, there has been considerable controversy in the academia. As a closed subcategory, their complex semantic and grammatical functions render inescapable particularity. As a consequence, such complexities in grammatical properties and semantic delivery, as well as the cross-linguistic differences in form and cognition, have brought forth challenges to overseas students in their 2nd language acquisition.Based on such an account, this dissertation probes into the ontology of Locative Words in modern Mandarin Chinese from multiple perspectives, addressing such issues as form, meaning, function, property and the inherent regularity in the grammaticalization process, with a combination of diachronic and synchronic approaches, so as to address the problems of Locative Words in 2nd language teaching and to benefit the ontological study on Locative words in Modern Mandarin Chinese as well.The introduction is the properties and scope of Locative Words as well as the previous analyses from multiple perspectives. To begin, it is stated that Locative Words are to be mapped out through their semantics and grammatical functions and hence their definition:Locative Words are prototypically used to denote directions and spaces and their grammatical functions resemble suffixes. Therefore, they are of a special subcategory of nouns. Next, a literature review is presented. Previous studies on Locative Words are reorganized from the perspectives of semantics, grammatical functions, pragmatics, cognition, culture, language comparison as well as 2nd language teaching, while inadequacies and flaws are researched.Chapter One is a thorough investigation on how Locative Words have evolved. Three stages, the initial, the mature and the revolutionary ones, are named and presented, in order to study the evolving patterns as well as regularities overtime, so that a stronger epistemology on their characteristics and systematicity can be attained.Chapter Two is concerned with the systematicity and categorization of Locative Words in modern Mandarin Chinese and 98 primary words are identified, among which there are 17 prototypical and 81 compound members. Meanwhile, Locative Words are categorized from the aspects of phonetics, semantics and grammar.Chapter Three researches on the grammatical features, syntactic functions and configuration patterns of Locative Words in modern Mandarin Chinese, focusing on such properties as strong syntactic attachment, being more suffixed than prefixed, showing apparent distinctions as well as multi-functionality. In particular, the framed preposition-object constructions, preposition+X+Locative Words, are studied from such aspects as motivation, selective constituents, semantics features and syntactic roles, so that new discoveries concerning their functions and patterns can be revealed.Chapter Four highlights the semantic and pragmatic features of Locative Words in modern Mandarin Chinese. Based on linguistic evidence, this chapter presents an in-depth study on their basic and metaphorical meanings as well as polysemy; it discusses the role contexts play on the meaning and function of Locative Words and Locative Phrases; it also describes their coherent and rhetorical functions.Chapter Five deals with the relations between Chinese Locative Words and cultural conventions, focusing on the cultural connotations of Locative Words by pointing out that some words comprise such senses as hierarchy and customs and that some have evolved into markers indicating the closeness of interpersonal relationships and symbols for respect and humbleness. Therefore, the cultural connotations are a precondition in order to perceive, comprehend and employ Locative Words appropriately.Chapter Six is an investigation and analysis on current inadequacies in the teaching of Locative Words. Much emphasis is placed upon error analysis, in which ten typical cases such as misunderstanding, misuse of reference points and form, negligence, overuse, repetition, counterfeit, chaotic linguistic units and inappropriate word order as well as pragmatic function of Locative Words are analyzed.Building on this research, Chapter Seven brings forth a series of strategies and methods on the teaching of Locative Words, such as meaning association, emphasis on the referent points, the demonstration of relativity, providing cognitive principles and cultural connotation, utilizing teaching procedures, language comparison, adequate practice as well as improving textbook quality, so that current problems can be addressed thoroughly and it is expected that the teaching and research of Chinese as a 2nd language would be further improved.