A Study Of The Reference Of Bare Nominals At The Thematic Position: A Cognitive Approach

The reference of bare nominals is always a hot topic which has been intensivelystudied by many linguists. However, it is difficult for us to know what a bare nominalalone refers to. Only in a context can a bare nominal have a referential reading. Thesimplest context for analyzing the reference of bare nominals is in generic sentences.As a result, this thesis probes into the reference of bare nominals at the thematicposition based on generic sentences under the framework of Reference Point Theory.With qualitative method, this thesis collects related linguistic data (simplesentences) from dissertations, relevant books, and published articles in journals toensure the objectivity of this thesis. By analyzing language phenomena, this thesisaims at discussing the reference of bare nominals at the thematic position based ongeneric sentences in three aspects: firstly, what’s the internal logic structure of genericsentences? Secondly, how is the reference scope of generic words restricted? Thirdly,as the referential function is in fact realized in our mind, it is necessary to discusswhether there is a mechanism behind such reference issues from the cognitive point ofview. If it exists, what is it? How does it perform?Bare nominals at the thematic position in simple sentences are generally inclinedto acquire generic interpretations. However, the referential function that genericsentences perform is restricted by many factors. By discussing the referential functionof generic sentences, this thesis finds that generic sentences are characterized bysensitivity to negation, sensitivity to tense, sensitivity to attribution of predicates,uncertainty of conceptual contents, and tolerance for exceptions. These charactersreveal the complexity of researches on generic sentences, which also shows thecomplexity of researches on bare nominals at the thematic position. A deep semanticand syntactic analysis can help to account for these issues. The following researchfinds that generic sentences, from the perspective of logic structure, are in essence conditionals and akin to their typical form “if P, then Q”. Bare nominals at the thematicposition (which are also generic words) in generic sentences can be viewed asnominalized conditionals and conditionals are topics. It can be seen that bare nominalsat the thematic position are topics. From the syntax point of view, the topic in a genericsentence is a specifier and is raised from the logic subject. Hence, generic sentencesare topic constructions. Last, this thesis discusses the topic construction of the genericsentence and the cognitive mechanism behind such reference issues from the cognitivepoint of view. It finds that the generic word, as a topic, serves as a reference point forthe proposition construal. The reference point evokes a cognitive domain whichincludes encyclopedic knowledge of various kinds associated with the generic word.The conceptualizer construes the proposition based on encyclopedic knowledge withinthe cognitive domain which functions as a cognitive basis, and in this way establishesmental contact with the target proposition along a mental path in the dimension of thecognitive domain. The objects the generic word refers to are identified via setting up amental path in such a construal process.This thesis probes into the reference of bare nominals at the thematic position onthe basis of generic sentences under the framework of Reference Point Theory andreveals its internal logic structure and a cognitive mechanism behind such issues,which to some degree deepens researches on the reference of bare nominals andprovides a brand-new perspective for further researches on relevant issues.