Multidimensional Analysis On A Construction:"Shuo Bu Shang X"

"Shuo bu shang X"is a common construction in modern Chinese.This paper analyses the meaning and the feature of its components according to Construction Grammar.And it also discusses the function of the construction and its creation mechanism and motivation.There is also a comparative study between "Shuo bu shang X"and two similar constructions.The paper includes five parts:Firstly,there is a judgement about"Shuo bu shang X"according to the criterion of Construction Grammar,proving that"Shuo bu shang X"is a real solid constuction whose meaning is stressing subjectively that the degree is under a given standard.And we laid special stress on analysing the subjectivity of the construction from speakers'emotion,view and cognition.The construction indicates a relative degree,not an absolute one.Secondly,analyzing the components of the construction in detail."Shuo"became grammaticalized after entering the construction,but it's meaning is still dynamically connected with the constuction."Shang"expresses a meaning of results,which belongs to spatial scope."X"can be words,phrases and some special forms.And usually " X " is quantitative.Thirdly,analyzing the construction's function.In syntax,"Shuo bu shang X" can be predicate,attribute,clause of complex sentence,and it can be used alone as a sentence.In pragmatics,"Shuo bu shang X"has the function of politeness and counter-expection.In discourse,the construction can be used to guide,connect and summarize discourse.Fourthly,investigating the creation mechanism and motivation of the construction.Analogy and exicalization of "Shuo bu shang"are the main mechanisms in the construction's formation.And the motivation includes the grammaticalization of"Shang",the competition of words of speech meaning,principle of economy in language and the promotion of vernacular literature.Fifthly,the comparison between "Shuo bu shang X"and the similar constructions."Tan bu shang X" is different from�Shuo bu shang X" in inside structure,semantics and syntax.And the differences beteween "Bu neng shuo X" focus on semantics and syntax.