Mark The Theoretical Research

In the categories of language system, there exist many phenomena of unsymmetrical opposites. In those unsymmetrical opposites, there is a basic term with a neutral meaning; as for the opposite one, it contains the meaning of some other features besides the neutral meaning. Therefore, it possesses some kind of "markedness" and becomes the "marked" term. Markedness Theory distinguishes the "marked term" with the "unmarked term".Markedness Theory derives from the work of the Prague school. In recent years, linguistic researchers have begun to consider the application of Markedness Theory to many linguistic fields as phonology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. This study seeks to analyse Markedness Theory in the area of lexics.It starts with the developing history of Markedness Theory, compares some research achievements by the historical representative linguists and introduces the current situation of the research on Markedness Theory by linguists worldwide. Then, with lots of theoretical research and practical language materials, it demonstrates and analyses comprehensively the markedness phenomena and Markedness Theory in English verbs, adjectives, nouns and pronouns. At last, special attention is given to discussing the origin of lexical markedness phenomena from four aspects: ways of cognition, economic motivation, politeness principle and social elements.It holds that the study of Markedness Theory in lexics is a broad and fruitful area of language study with considerate potential for further work which not only helps us better understand language phenomena, but also guides us to use languagemore accurately.