On The Classifier And Construction "Numeral + Classifier + Noun" Of Modern Chinese

This dissertation analysed construction"numeral+classifier+noun"in detail, especially the classifier, combining description and explanation.At first, it organized the studies on the classifier. Taking into consideration various opinions on the classifier, it proposed a safer one through cross-linguistic investigation: the widespread utilization of classifiers is a marked characteristic of modern Chinese. Then, the dissertation briefly reviewed classifier's historical development and name- rectifying process, analysed its part-of-speech position and subcategories.In historical aspect, the dissertation drafted the forming process of construction"numeral+classifier+noun"on the basis of predecessors'researches and literature- searching.In synchronic aspect, it analysed the components and arrangement of the construction, pointed out that the integration of the numeral, the classifier and the noun in modern Chinese is a whole expressing integral concept. It is the most typical quantitative construction in Chinese, so active and common that it has already become a gestalt, which is regarded as a standard for confirming classifier. The dissertation carried out careful description of construction"numeral+classifier+noun", especially the matching situations between classifiers and their neighbors: 1) one noun to several classifiers; 2) one classifier to several nouns; 3) a noun-classifier to any numeral in general. But there are exceptions whose matching ability is limited to noun-classifiers. No matter which nouns they modify, they can only match a small number of numerals. It analyzed the function of classifiers in construction"numeral+classifier+noun"of modern Chinese from 4 aspects: measurement, grammar, semantics and pragmatics. The conclusions are as follows: 1) the classifier has multiple functions in the construction among which the first and most primitive one is measuring and measuring accuracy of each subcategory forms a continuum; 2) in grammar, the classifier foretells the following noun; 3) in semantics, the classifier confirms meaning and differentiates ambiguity; 4) in pragmatics, the construction expresses multiple rhetorical meanings with the aid of different classifiers, has the functions of expressing appraisal and of adjusting rhythm. The dissertation analysed relations between the classifiers and the nouns from a brand-new angle. On expression, it studied the standard for classifier-screening in grammar, semantics, pragmatics and cognition. On understanding, it analyzed the foretelling ability of the classifier.Finally, it explained the word order of the construction from grammatical angle, information theory and cognitive angle.