Research On Modal Particle "Lie" In Modern Chinese

Since the meaning of modal particles is elusive and their syntactic position is very special (in most cases the existence of modal particles do not affect a propositional meaning of the sentence and the sentence structure), the value of researching modal particles is ignored by scholars. And because of the limitations of the research methods, the results of modal particles lack scientific. Therefore, the study of modal particles is the weak link in the study of modern Chinese vocabulary for a long time. However, in recent years, as people come to realize the value of modal particles, scholars strengthen the study of modal particles. In this situation, we choose modal particle "lie" which has not been admitted by scholars whether it is a modal particle of Mandarin or not. We hope we can take this opportunity to certify that "lie" is a member of modal particles in Mandarin and to make contribution for the study of modal particles in modern Chinese.There are six sections in this thesis, and we divided them into six chapters.The first chapter is introduction. This part is about the discussion on the reason and significance of the selected topic, the theoretical foundation and research object, the definition of the subject, the purpose and method of the research, and the previous research results. Specifically, in order to increase the richness and diversity of this article’s linguistic data, the material we collect is not only from Centre for Chinese Linguistics PKU, but also from well-known TV programs, TV series and films. Moreover, we also choose some material from QQ, Wechat and Facebook. Furthermore, in order to analyze modal particle "lie" comprehensively, we also use some sentences made by ourselves which conform to requirements to elucidate questions.The second chapter is an analysis for the usage of modal particle "lie". We divided this chapter into two parts. The fist part is the one that is based on the material from Centre for Chinese Linguistics PKU, the second part is the one that is based on daily conversation. In the first part, we make statistical analysis of the material from CCL PKU in accordance with the "modern" and "contemporary" as well as works of different categories. And then, we do analyze modal particle "lie" in each different types of work in order to show the universality and the diversity of modal particles "lie". In the second part, we make analysis through the questionnaire. This questionnaire mainly involves the respondents for modal particles "lie" in different sentence categories, the respondents for modal particles "lie" in different genders, the respondents for modal particles "lie" from different dialectal background, the situation that modal particle "lie" uses together with modal particle "de" and "le"’, and the usage of modal particle "lie" in different objects and occasions of communication.The third chapter is the study of its distribution at the end of the sentence. We mainly discuss it when it is at the end of declarative sentences, exclamatory sentences and declarative sentences with strong emotion, and interrogative sentences. The second part is the study of its distribution in the middle of the sentence. Based on the linguistic material, we summarize some useful phrases and their characteristics when using modal particle "lie" in the middle of the sentence. In the third part, we make analysis for the modal particle "lie" when it uses together with modal particle "le" and "de". Lastly, we make conclusion of modal particle "lie" under the condition of different pronunciation.The forth chapter is the study of its modal meaning when it is used at the end of the sentence. Firstly, we distinguish between "Modality" and "Tone". Secondly, through the analysis,, we point out the modal particles "lie" does not have modality significance, but has tone significance. Fourthly, we use different research methods comprehensively to analyze the tone significance of modal particle "lie" when it is used at the end of the sentence. Lastly, we found out that it has five different tone significance. They are "’emphasize", "soften", "discontented" "unofficial" and "ask for an explanation deeply eagerly"The fifth chapter is the study of its pragmatic function when it is used in the middle of the sentence. Lastly, we make conclusion that modal particle "lie" has the pragmatic function which are emphasizing the subject identity, increasing the kindness and expressing pauses. Furthermore, it can fill the blank of the flow of the speech so that it can help speakers to cover up the fact that his or her language expression is not fluent.The sixth chapter is conclusion. Firstly, we make conclusion for modal particle "lie" in modern Chinese based on previous content. Secondly, we mention about the innovation of this article that is enriching the study of modal particles in modem Chinese, filling in the blank for the research of modal particle "lie" in modern Chinese, and certifying that "lie" is a member of modal particles in Mandarin. Lastly, we point out the deficiency and problems which remain to be further of the paper.