Cognitive Semantic Research Of The Modifier-head Words In Chinese

This paper aims to explore the cognitive motivation of modifier-head word-formation based on the theories of cognitive semantics.The main body includes five parts:In the first chapter,which is the introduction of the paper,we will focus on the detailed analysis of researches about Chinese modifier-head word-formation,keep track of the progress and point out the weak points,while making a simple description of those of Chinese word-formation in the latest thirty years,then put forward the idea?value and modes of this research.In the second chapter,which is the descriptive part as a road stone,we mainly describe the inferior types of the modifier-head words by placing them under the scope of nouns?verbs and objectives according to their basic semantic categories,based on the analysis of their semantic structure.In the third chapter,which is the central part in this paper,we will mainly reveal the motivation of the productivity of the modifier-head word-formation from a cognitive perspective.Through a quantitative investigation on modifier-head words in Chinese,we find that categorization is the most fundamental driving force in generation of the modifier-head words,the all-round classification to objects,which is cognitively based on the basic categories,is the chief purpose of the modifier-head word-formation.Feature-highlighting is also an important cognitive motivation of modifier-head words in addition to categorization.Externalizing the main feature contained in a concept in a form of head morpheme or modifying morpheme to highlight it is the realistic cause of some modifier-head words under the background of disyllablization in Chinese.Besides,the productivity of modifier-head word-formation could be reinforced by some cognitive mechanisms.In order to accomplish categorization indirectly,people usually eliminate the semantic barriers and enhance the ability in conceptual integration in the process of construction of the modifier-head words by virtue of metaphor and metonymy,thus giving full play to the ability of modifier-head word-formation in generating new words.In the forth chapter,which is the supplement to the chapter three,we will discuss the main semantic frames and mechanisms through which new words are created,depending on the characteristic of the new words in Chinese at present,thus showing from the side the enormous impacts of the modifier-head structure on the generation of new words,further reflecting the significance of modifier-head word-formation for people in cognizing new things and new phenomenons.In the fifth chapter,which is the epilogue of this paper,we will show the significance?innovation and shortcomings of this paper and look forward to future research about the theme,in addition to the summarization of the arguments and the conclusion to the research.