On Reduplication Of Mass Classifiers In Modern Chinese

The reduplication of Chinese classifiers depends on both meaning and number of syllables. As for meaning, it is mainly decided by their embodied features of quantity, namely feature of unfixed quantity and discreteness. Besides, the syllabic number also affects their reduplication. To put it more straight, monosyllabic classifiers can be reduplicated, while multi-syllabic ones cannot. The reasons lay on the strong quest for combination of Chinese classifiers and monosyllabic classifiers are not marked. The basic grammatical meaning of reduplicative classifiers is "the reappearance of things". Derived from it, they can mean "all and every", "muchness"and "sequence". From "all and every"comes "all"and "every"; "sequence", "one by one"and 'stretch". These meanings, which are at different strata, form a meaning continuum of reduplicative classifiers. And among these meanings, "all and every"is of overwhelming importance. Reduplicative classifiers are different from those that are not reduplicated in expressing the "number"of Chinese classifiers. To be more specific, they can be used independently to express the idea of "number". Apart from grammatical meaning, the influence of reduplication embodies in the adjunct meanings of classifiers. They can be equal or with supplementary attached meanings. One of the most prominent grammatical characteristics of Chinese classifiers is the break-through in function. They can be used as subject, predicate, attribute and adverbial modifier. Two or more reduplicative classifiers are often used together and, furthermore, they alone can be used to modify nouns. Where there is break-through, there are limitations, which include : Firstly, reduplicative classifiers can not act as complement as well as object and its modifier. Secondly, they can not be modified by numbers other than "one"any longer, not to mention by adjectives and nouns. Thirdly, they are put exclusively in front of the predicate. Writers purposely use reduplicative classifiers to achieve certain effect, because they are with a strong force of description and transmitting a lot of aesthetic information.