"Lao+N" And "Jiu+N"

By investigating the matching of "lao (老)/jiu (旧)" and nouns, the difference and similarity in syntax, semantics and pragmatics between the two synonymous forms are compared. In the paper the author tries to discuss the issue in the following five parts by description and explanation.In part one, a thorough investigation of the matching of "lao (老)/ jiu (旧)" and nouns are made, and on the basis of observation a preliminary analysis of the matching is carried out.In part two, the semantic features of "lao (老)" and its semantic constraint on the nouns are focused on. The paper holds that "lao (老)" mainly shows the semantic features of change with time, self-change, and quantity, so the nouns can be used together with "lao (老)" also mainly have the semantic features of change with time and self-change.In part three, a thorough investigation of "jiu (旧)" and its semantic constraint on the nouns are focused on. The paper holds that "jiu (旧)" mainly shows the semantic features of time, nature-change, and other-change, so the nouns can be used together with "jiu (旧)" also mainly have the semantic features of nature-change and other-change.In part four, an overall comparison between "lao (老) + N" and "jiu (旧) + N" is made. Through the comparison, some major differences between these two are found. Semantically, "lao (老)" shows the continuing change of the N in time and hence some changes in nature prominently. While "jiu (旧)" shows the change of the N in nature because of some influence from outside, and the change is called other-change. Syntactically, "lao (老) + N" can not be expanded by adding "de (的)" but this can be done to "jiu (旧)" in some cases. This shows that "lao (老)" expresses the nature of matters so the structure of "lao (老)"cannot be expanded, while "jiu (旧)"does not express the nature of matters so the structure of "jiu (旧)" can be expanded in some cases.Pragmatically, different semantic features of these two words can exert influence on the affection the two structures expressed. "Lao (老)" tends to show "respect" and "closeness", but "jiu (旧)" ends to show "disdainfulness" and "dissatisfaction".On the base of the overall comparison, the selective matching of the two words with different types of nouns is also discussed from the cognitive point of view. The paper holds that the cognitive model is another important factor in the constraint of the matching of adjectives like "lao (老)" or "jiu (旧)" and nouns.In part five, some remaining issues are discussed.