A Cognitive Study Of The "X Ba" Construction In Chinese

This thesis focuses on the Chinese "X Ba(X ?)" construction as the research object.Most related studies mainly focus on its phonological,syntactic and semantic features,but ignore the explanation on its cognitive mechanisms and generative mechanisms.We make an exhaustive search of "X Ba" in CCL.The corpus involves four periods: Pre-Qin,Tang & Song dynasties,Ming & Qing dynasties and Modern times.Based on the theory of Construction Grammar and Cognitive Grammar,the study explores the features of its phonology,syntax,semantics and pragmatics,and reveals its generative mechanisms and cognitive mechanisms at the syntactic,semantic and pragmatic levels.It can be shown from the study:(1)on the phonological level,the "X Ba" construction mainly appears as two syllables,with a small number of three syllables.Moreover,there does not appear "one+three" or "one+four" syllable constructions.Thus,"Ba" is not completely affixed;(2)on the syntactic level,"X" can be nouns,verbs,adjectives,adverbs and numerals;"Ba" can be nouns and verbs.It is found that the syntactic structure of "X Ba" is the modifier-core structure,which is composed of a modifier and a central term.According to Cognitive Grammar,the syntactic structure of "X Ba" can be analyzed in terms of "Autonomy/Dependence Alignment(ADA)",and the combination of "X" and "Ba" indicates human cognitive ability of categorization;(3)on the semantic level,the meaning of "X Ba" is gradually enriched with two semantic aspects: [to occupy cruelly and violently relying on one's power and authority] and [the best one in the same category].These are two constructional meanings,which not only inherit the derogatory meaning,but also expand the commendatory one.The meanings can not be predicted from "X" and "Ba"individually.All these are the results of constructional coercion and lexical coercion.In this way,people should use metaphor and metonymy to explore the meanings of "X Ba";(4)on the pragmatic level,the constructional meanings of "X Ba" are in a"one-or-the other" exclusive relationship.The new derivative word is restricted by itsown regulatory mechanisms,that is,the principles of economy and analogy.The "X Ba" construction is widely used,which achieves the principles of expression and economy in language use,conforming to the rule of social development.In this process,people get knowledge of new things on the basis of old experience through the cognitive ability of metaphor.However,there are still deficiencies in this thesis and a larger corpus is required for a thorough study of the "X Ba" construction.Admittedly,it is hoped that this study could serve as an inspiration to apply Discourse Construction to the phrasal level of language and a better understanding of this particular kind of construction.