| In this paper, we are intend to study Wh-words which have the same usage as polarity word "any". There are two scalar properties also can be recognized as have quantitative value (minimal degree&maximal degree) that derived in the context in Chinese. For example, I can pay "at any cost"(at any price) in order to get you."Any" indicate "a maximum or a very high price.""However naughty I am, I do not dare make any mistake in front of you"."However" means "very". Fauconnier (1975), Heim (1982), Haspelmath (1993/1997), Israel (2011)have given clear point view that consider indeterminate words "any" as scalar properties word that it refers to extreme point (high or very low value) in semantic set. Such as "Sam can solve any problem" indicate Sam to solve the most difficult problems,"Sam cannot solve any problem" indicate Sam even the most simple question can not be resolved. In this two sentences we could se the "Any" have two scalar properties high value (difficult) and low value (simple).Wh-words in Chinese have a corresponding usage with indeterminate words "any" in English, can be used to represent the arbitrary significance. According to the instance exist in Chinese, we questioned the interpretation method of Fauconnier and other researchers, that the scalar meaning and arbitrary meaning cannot coexist in one word. Scalar meaning refers to the extremist point meaning, while the arbitrary significance refers to any element of a set in the collection. Thus, a word cannot own both meaning simultaneously.However, the above sentences,"Any"and"Wh-word" actually expressed scalar meaning.In this paper, with the association of semantic contraction principle in Relevance Theory to explain the principle of semantic positioning of arbitrary word. Arbitrary word originally refers to any one element which can represent any other element of a collection. Any element, in some way, have the same characteristics.Relevance Theory of Sperber&Wilson (1986/1995), the principle of the semantic contraction in verbal communication is the process of seeking optimal relevance. Listener try their best, according to the intent of the speaker, to fixed and positioning the meaning that speaker intend to delivered meaning in context.Wh-words and "Any" combine with different context(negative contexts、 conditions context、comparative context), those context can guided listener transit arbitrary meaning to scalar meaning which can point to the extreme point meaning. During the process of semantic contraction of "Any" and Wh-words, it have clear direction, which have close relevance with probability. In order to obtain optimal relevance, listener will contract all members of the collection to best-related members. Obedient devoted to pay valid judgment, start the best contextual assumptions, positioning the semantic content of the arbitrary words, to obtain sufficient contextual effects, to achieve the transition to extreme point meaning from the arbitrary meaning.There are three pivotal points in this paper. First, It give a overall vision to the Chinese Wh-word, especially the Non-doubt usage. Second, It non-doubt can be classified two kinds:Implicit meaning、arbitrary meaning. We start from their arbitrary meaning. Make a thorough inquiry the motivation of its extreme point meaning. Third, the principle of this paper introduces Relevance Theory and Scalar Model which based on probability to set up a scalar meaning collection. |
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