A Study On Asymmetry Of "大/小+NP"

Guided by the cognitive grammar theory, the markedness theory and "three planes"theory, the author strives to make a observation of asymmetrical phenomena between "大"and "小", depicts the laws of the asymmetry, and explains further. The text firstly addresses classified fruits achieved on this subject and some theory involved such as cognitive grammar theory, markedness theory and "three planes"theory. We analyses symmetrical and asymmetrical phenomena such us "大上海"and "小上海"etc. we believe "大"has two meanings and "小"also has two meanings. The combinational confine of "小1"is most extensive. The symmetry of "大"and "小"is evident. We believes the usage of "大"and "小"is orderly before appellative noun. After analyzing distributing types and analyzing instance, we believe the meanings of "小"is more than that of"大". We believe the asymmetrical phenomena of "大"and "小"is numbered before time noun. "大"can denote an attitude but "小"can't. There also has asymmetry between them. After observed the asymmetry between "大"and "小"in front of three types of nouns, we demonstrate that in two kinds of formats. We insist that the use confine and use frequency of "大"is more than that of "小"when they lie in the format of"数词+大(小)+NP".They are asymmetrical in those conditions. The meaning of "大"becomes feeble and empty, but it doesn't become a quantifier. "小"becomes feeble and its use confine is more than "大"in the format of "有点小ХХ". They are asymmetrical in that format. Lastly, we explain these phenomena from the two microcosmic and macrocosmic aspects. There are two kinds of semantic elements: involved semantic elements and descriptive semantic elements. We believe the asymmetrical phenomena between "大"and "小" represent noun's descriptive semantic elements. "大"and "小"compose a contrary meaning system and "老"和"小"also do. So sometimes "小"和"老"are symmetrical and "小"和"大"are asymmetrical. In macrocosmic aspects, we may explain it from three aspects: cognize, canto and culture. Sign theory can explain the asymmetrical phenomena between "大"and"小". The difference of canto function between "大"and "小"effects their symmetry. From the asymmetry we can see some traits of our culture.