A Cognitive Study Of The Temporary Classifier Structures In Nalan Ci-poems

Most of the previous researches on Nalan Ci-poems have been conducted from the perspectives of literature,acceptance aesthetics and communication science.Although the development of cognitive linguistics later has provided a new approach to Nalan Ci-poems studies,the research focus has been majorly on the illustration of the literary images.Based on the analysis of Nalan Ci-poems,the thesis holds that the temporary classifier structures(the TCS),which consist of numerals,temporary classifiers(the TC)and phrases of literary images,show high frequency in Nalan Ci-poems and they assume their responsibility of conveying the poet's emotions and ideas.Hence,this study intends to make a cognitive analysis of the TCS in Nalan Ci-poems based on Conceptual Metaphor Theory,Conceptual Metonymy Theory and Metaphtonymy Theory,examining major types and linguistic features,meaning construction,cognitive motivations and functions of the TCS by adopting literature analysis method and qualitative methodAccording to the contextually prominent semantic meanings of the TC,which is the core part of the TCS,this thesis has classified the TCS in Nalan Ci-poems into four major types,including Shape-based TCS,Range-based TCS,Movement and State-based TCS,and Time-based TCS Each type has been expatiated respectivelyIt is found that the TCS in Nalan Ci-poems keeps some structural and semantic features.Structurally,the frequently employed numerals include ?(one),?(half),?(several),?(ten thousand of).The TC is mainly transformed from words of other parts of speech.The phrases are put after the numeral and the TC in most cases but are occasionally found before the two.The TCS is temporarily collocated to meet the poet's needs of conceptualizing and conveying his emotions,feelings and ideas.Semantically,the measuring function of the numerals collocated with the TC has been weakened.They are contextually used to intensify features or states of what the phrases describe.The metaphtonymic meaning of the TCS is prominent,highly contextualized,novel and connotative.Meaning construction of the TCS is intervened by conceptual metaphor,conceptual metonymy and metaphtonymy.Metonymy within metaphor is the dominant cognitive mechanism for their meaning construction.It is also concluded that the TCS in Nalan Ci-poems plays roles of concretizing and foregrounding abstract concepts related to emotions,feelings and attitudes.Meanwhile,it plays part in intensifying emotional expressions of the poet and enhancing the artistic conception of Nalan Ci-poems.Cognitive motivations of the TCS in Nalan Ci-poems include those of bodily experience,cognitive prominence,cultural models and pragmatic purposes.