A Study Of Rhetorical Consttruction "X De Shenme Y" ("X的什么Y")

The rhetorical construction "X de shenme Y" ("X的什么Y") is scientific investigated in this paper from the perspective of construction grammar. The syntax, semantics and pragmatic factors of this construction are analyzed. The meaning of this construction, the analysis of the chunks, the investigation of the interaction between the construction and the chunks, and the contrast between several constructions are also given in this paper. The main parts in this paper are chapter 2 to chapter 8.Chapter 2 gives the differences between the format which express negative and the format which express inquiry. The differences are on the accent and the tone, the usage of "shenme", the relation of "shenme" and "Y" and the meaning. The format which express negative is indentified as a construction. Chapter 3 is on the description of the syntax distribution of this construction. This construction often appears in two structures:"ni X de shenme Y" and "ni zhe (shi) X de shenme Y ". There is a discussion on the immediate constituent analysis of these two structures. Chapter 4 is about the analysis of the chunks. The predicate-object phrases, the separable words and the predicate-object compound words are the members of "XY".And the semantic features of "XY" are dynamic, related to human and colloquial. The "de" in this construction is a auxiliary word which express tense and aspect. The "shenme" in this construction has a effect of reinforcing the mood of negative. Chapter 5 is about the meaning of this construction. This construction has three semantic features: negative, counter-expectation and happened behavior. Negative can be divided into several classifications, such as the negative of the happening, the negative of the way, the negative of the consequence and the negative of the object. The meaning of this construction is summarized. The negative objects, the negative domain and the features of expressing meaning are analyzed in the last. Chapter 6 is about the analysis of the pragmatic factors. This construction often appears in a spectacle and has different relations with the contexts. The core pragmatic function of this construction is negative, and the subordinate pragmatic functions of this construction are blame, confusion and taunt. And the pragmatic values of this construction are subjective and the threat to the face and the manner. Chapter 7 mainly discusses the interaction between the construction and the chunks. The construction has the coercion to the chunks. And the chunks also have influence to the construction. In this construction, chunk "de" has the constraint to "XY".Chapter 8 has a contrast of the "X de shenme Y"、"X shenme Y" and "X shenme X". The classification of the words which enter the construction, the trigger of the negative object, the situation of the independent use and the time domain of the negative are the contrastive items.