The Study On Content、Epistemic And Speech Act Domain Of Hypothesis Complex Sentences

This paper utilizes cognitive linguistics theory to study mainly the distribution ofhypothetical complex sentences in the regions of content, epistemic modality andspeech acts, and combines related theories of grammar, pragmatics, semantics toexplore dominance and covert gender standards of the division of hypotheticalcomplex sentences in the three regions. What should be stated in particular is that sometheories which support the theory of comprehending hypothetical complex sentences inthe region of epistemic modality are based on speech acts theory. Therefore, the authoradjusts the order of the two when arranging the structure of the paper. Considering thatthese three regions are usually referred to in the order of content, epistemic modalityand speech acts in academic circle, we still use this current reference in the title of thepaper.According to the usual definitions of the three regions, the first chapter makesfundamental explanation of the meaning in content. It is commonly believed that themeaning in content is the basic meaning of language units. Based on Leech’s SevenMeaning Division Theory, we find two essential rational meanings of hypotheticalcomplex sentences，that is virtual property and causal relationship, as well as basicfeatures of comprehending hypothetical complex sentences in content region throughthe study and analysis of a large number of example sentences: assumed conditions arebefore inference results; there is a branch between the true and the false; adaptiondirection refers to that sentences adapt reality; conclusion has realizability; languagerelationship is simple casual relationship.Meaning in speech acts and meaning in epistemic modality are extended frommeaning in content, which inevitably have similarities and differences with it.Following this thought, we start from these three elements of hypothetical complexsentences to study if there exist particularities of hypothetical complex sentences inmeaning in epistemic modality and meaning in speech acts. For example, when wecomprehend clauses of hypothetical complex sentences in meaning in content, itdelivers a casual relationship of virtual property. However, it still needs to be studied whether it has changed in meaning in epistemic modality and meaning in speech acts;whether the conditions of realizing front clauses as main sentences are existence orabsence; whether the conclusion of similar main sentences is using front clauses asconditions and so on. These are the questions we plan to deal with in the second andthird chapters. Through argument, we find that comprehending hypothetical complexsentences in meaning in speech acts has special pragmatics effects in most cases.Taking hypothetical complex sentences leaded by rugushuo for example, specialpragmatics functions of this kind of hypothetical complex sentences exist in makingsentences have special effects because of using techniques of expression such ascomparison and analogy in this kind of sentences at first, and then the evidentialmeaning of shuo makes sentences have certain subjectivity and persistence forconclusions. To study hypothetical complex sentences in meaning of epistemicmodality from the angle of language relationship, this kind of sentences also haveparticular effects. Taking counterfactual hypothetical complex sentences for example,they are usually integrated with speakers’ intense subjective emotions and treat thiscondition as the only on to emphasize.The frequency of co-existence of can-wish verbs and hypothetical complexsentences are high，and it plays an important part in judging the concept distribution ofhypothetical complex sentences, which can be considered as the dominance gender ofhypothetical complex sentences. We utilize Qingzhu Ma’s research theories oncan-wish verbs to study the distribution condition of different kinds of can-wish verbsin the three regions of hypothetical complex sentences.The dividing line of these three regions is certainly not clear, and there are alwayssome overlapping conditions. Previous scholars also realized this point and made somerelevant explanations. Similar overlapping phenomena also exist in the three regions ofhypothetical complex sentences. We sort out there conditions in the last chapter.