On The "Shuo X Jiu X" Construction In Mandarin Chinese: An Interactive Model

The �shuo X jiu X� construction in Mandarin Chinese is frequently used in daily communication.Some researchers have analyzed this construction from different linguistic perspectives.However,on the whole,studies on the �shuo X jiu X� construction in Mandarin Chinese are still not sufficient,which leaves space for further investigations.The biggest problem lies in the depth of these studies.Most researches are only descriptive and few studies have discussed the cognitive mechanism of the �shuo X jiu X� construction.Accordingly,this paper collects 577 authentic instances of the construction from Beijing Language and Culture University Chinese Corpus in the light of our proposed definition of the �shuo X jiu X� construction in Mandarin Chinese.Moreover,within the framework of Cognitive Linguistics,the author proposes an Interactive Model based on Langacker's Cognitive Grammar and Goldberg's Construction Grammar.This Interactive Model means that the construction as a whole will coerce its components,and its components will react to the construction.Meanwhile,the components will interact with each other as well.This thesis aims to explore the meaning construction and cognitive mechanism of the �shuo X jiu X� construction based on the Interactive Model.According to the collected data,this paper finds that the Interactive Model works efficiently in accounting for the �shuo X jiu X� construction in the following three aspects:Firstly,the �shuo X jiu X� construction coerces the semantic features of its components,the sequential frame �shuo�jiu�� and the variable �X�.This coercion reflects in the semantic constraints of �shuo�,�jiu� and �X� and the syntactic constraints on the word class of �X�.In most cases,the variable �X� is a verb or an adjective.Sometimes,the variable �X� can also be a pronoun,a noun,an adverb or a numeral.In general,the variable �X� will acquire an actional meaning in this construction even though they don't have such a meaning of their own.Secondly,the sequential frame �shuo�jiu�� and the variable �X� will react to the whole construction in two ways.One is that the frame �shuo�jiu�� influences the relation between �shuo X� and �jiu X�.It can refer not only to the sequential relation,but also to the condition-hypothesis relation and the cause-effect relation.Different meanings of �shuo�jiu�� will affect the constructional meaning of this construction.The other is that the variable �X� enables the �shuo X jiu X� construction to become a high-level schematic construction,which leads to the high productivity of this construction.At the same time,�X� profiles an elaboration of the construction.The meaning of the construction will change along with the variable �X�.Thus the construction is polysemous.Finally,the sequential frame �shuo�jiu�� and the variable �X� will interact with each other.Taking the sequential frame �shuo�jiu� as its landmark,the trajector �X� becomes highlighted in the whole construction.Therefore the whole construction inherits the semantic features of the variable �X� and profiles an action.The three levels of interaction are closely related to each other.Therefore,a specific constructional meaning of an instantaneous action is constructed out of the �shuo X jiu X� construction in Mandarin Chinese.