Categorization Of "X+V-_PP" English Adjectival Compounds

Research on English compounds has been the interest of many linguists, for the formation of compounds is the most important means to create new words. English adjectival compounds occupy a large proportion in the sum of compounds. Within the framework of the categorization theory of cognitive linguistics, this thesis investigates their external structures, internal semantic relations with focus on the type of "X+V-pp" English adjectival compounds (briefed as "X+V-pp" EAC) to propose a cognitive model to clearly express the mental process of them, aiming to provide the reader with the knowledge of English adjectival compounds.Within the framework of categorization theory, this thesis is on "X+V-pp" EAC. It is based on the self-built corpus which is on the basis of the FLOB corpus and the collection from books, newspapers and articles. This thesis adopts the Likert scale and the calculation of GOE scores to make qualitative and quantitative analyses of the categorization study of "X+V-pp" EAC. Major findings of this thesis are indicated in the following four aspects:Firstly, categorization is a mental process, which consists of many complex neuron models, even though a simple categorization should be considered as a dynamic and complex cognitive activity. The present study suggests that semantic meaning of "X+V-pp" EAC is based on the habitual usage of the verb."V-pp" form in this thesis is to express the property or trait of the animate or inanimate objects. Hence, it is necessary to propose a CM of the categorization of "X+V-pp" EAC,(V)�'(X1, X2, X3...Xn;V-pp1,V-pp2,V-pp3...V-ppN)�'(X+V-pp), which is to reveal its developmental and mental process.Secondly, there are two main motivations of the English adjectival compounds, which are morphological and semantic motivation. Because compounds are two-morphemic words and the meaning can be obtained from the separate elements of words, such as sun-burned means to be burned by the sun, highly-developed means to be developed highly and new-built means to be newly built. However, it should be pointed out that there are a lot of words whose structures are opaque, and their meanings are not the simple combination of the constituent parts. Action-packed, for example, is by no means to be packed of actions but expressing full of exciting events and activity. Likewise, far-fetched is not too far to be fetched, but a thing very difficult to believe.Thirdly, in the aspect of the external structure, there are six patterns categorization of the X in the form of "X+V-pp" EAC, namely, X’s categorization into nouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, verbs and past-participles. Meanwhile, in the aspect of the semantic relation, we find that there are ten different kinds of categorization, namely, action-situation relation, action-means relation, action-degree relation, action-comparison relation, action-agent relation, action-recipient relation, action-time relation, action-place relation, action-cause relation and action-result relation.Fourthly, through a comprehensive observation and a calculation of GOE scores of the data, the prototypical member in the aspect of the external structure, the N+V-pp pattern of "X+V-pp" EAC, which accounts the most of the total (51.53%). Moreover, we find out the action-situation relation takes the most part (47.03%), and the action-agent relation is next to it (18.20%). Finally, we propose the prototypical member of "X+V-pp" EAC, which is the N+V-pp pattern adjectival compounds with the action-agent semantic relation, such as majority-owned, poverty-stricken, male-dominated, tailor-made and war-ravaged.