To Explain Lexicalization Of Modern Chinese Two-Syllable Mental Verbs By The Theory Of Conceptual Integration

Most linguists used to explain lexicalization from the structures of words and they seldom studied the cognitive mechanism of lexicalization. It is necessary to study the semantic blending and the course of lexicalization. The theory of conceptual integration of G.Fauconnier and M.Turner fits for the whole construction course of linguistic meanings. Chinese lexicalization is a construction course of linguistic meanings and is also conceptual reconstructions of cognitive thinking. Therefore the theory of conceptual integration is useful when we have a historical study of Chinese. We will explain lexicalization of modern Chinese two-syllable mental verbs, especially 8 of them by conceptual integration and try to find the conceptual integration types and features of lexicalization of two- syllable mental verbs, two- syllable verbs and even all the two- syllable words. We have not only the historical and modern study but also the quality and quantity study.We try to answer three questions: (1) the semantic changes of lexicalization of the 8 two- syllable mental verbs (2) their cognitive types of lexicalization when explaining by conceptual integration (3) the relationships between the semantic changes and the cognitive types of lexicalization.The principal parts are as follows:1. The descriptions of lexicalization of the 8 two-syllable mental verbs. We have 34 two- syllable mental verbs as our objects and analyze thousands of ancient Chinese examples including the two- syllable arrays. After we look up for the modern meaning from modern Chinese dictionary and contrast the meanings, we select 8 two-syllable mental verbs and describe their lexicalization. The 8 two- syllable mental verbs can represent most of two- syllable mental verbs. We try to find the semantic changes before and after the lexicalization.2. The contrast of the semantic changes of lexicalization of the 8 two- syllable mental verbs. The types are: no change in basic meaning, change in part meaning, change in the whole meaning.3. The explanation of lexicalization by the theory of conceptual integration. Re-understand the conceptual integration and explain lexicalization of modern Chinese two- syllable mental verbs: simple conceptual integration and complex conceptual integration. In the blend space, there are: composition, composition to completion, composition to elaboration.4. Analyze the relationship between the semantic changes and the cognitive types of lexicalization of the two- syllable mental verbs. Simple conceptual integration happen in word whose meaning composed of the two morpheme. Complex conceptual integration happen in word whose meaning can be represented by one of the two morpheme. The blend space of words of no change in basic meaning have simple blend such as composition, however the blend space of words of changes in part or the whole meaning have complex blend such as composition to completion, composition to elaboration.