ISSN : 1229-9618(Print)
ISSN : 2671-7506(Online)
ISSN : 2671-7506(Online)
Chinese Studies Vol.55 pp.279-297
DOI : https://doi.org/10.14378/KACS.2016.55.55.15
DOI : https://doi.org/10.14378/KACS.2016.55.55.15
A Study on ’nanmian(bu)VP’ Constructure
Abstract
This study aims to examine the ‘nanmian(bu)VP’ construction, one of the redundancy negation phenomena. This study analyzed the grammaticalization of ‘nanmian’ through a diachronic consideration, classified the asymmetrical aspects of forms and meanings by combining synchronic perspectives, and finally sought the roles of ‘bu’ in the cognitive and pragmatic level as the meaning of ‘bu’ is not granted as a surplus component on the mechanism and syntax level that leads the grammaticalization.
To begin with, ‘nanmian’ changes from an adverb to a verb through 4-stage grammaticalization. The first stage indicates a period when ‘nanmian’ is solely used as a predicate. The second stage is a period when its syntax structure changes into a predicate-object structure, while starting to accept substantive or predicate objects. The third stage is when the grammaticalization starts, and the number of its accepting predicate objects is rapidly increasing. Being used as a predicate in the predicate-object relation, the syntactic position of ‘nanmian’ is the place of adverb where is easy to be grammaticalized, further providing a foundation of grammaticalization through external changes in the structure type, such as changes in the meaning of VP following. The last stage is a period when ‘nanmian’ has completely changed into an adverb through reanalyses and pragmatic reinforcement.
After the grammaticalization, this study found out that ‘nanmian(bu)VP’ constructions have three different asymmetrical aspects; they are used as a positive type and a negative type in the syntactic and semantic relations with the following component, VP, and their semantic differences become ambiguous between the positive and negative types. Besides, it was found that through the phenomenon of reversing grounds and backgrounds, the fact that the ‘nanmianVP’ construction cannot avoid the occurrence of VP becomes a ground, further orienting VP. On the other hand, the surplus negation ‘nanmianbuVP’ constructions orient ‘buVP’ by subjectively interpreting the objectively same situations as the psychological state of a speaker who does not want the occurrence of VP becomes a ground.
Accordingly, the ‘nanmian(bu)VP’ construction appears as a reanalysis through diachronic grammaticalization, based on the phenomenon of reversing grounds with backgrounds by the cognitive tendency and strategy of a conceptual speaker. Besides, through ‘bu’, speakers are able to actively and intentionally give subjective meanings, and through the ‘nanmianbuVP’ construction in a mark type against the ‘nanmianbuVP’ construction in a non-mark type, the subjectivization is realized.
To begin with, ‘nanmian’ changes from an adverb to a verb through 4-stage grammaticalization. The first stage indicates a period when ‘nanmian’ is solely used as a predicate. The second stage is a period when its syntax structure changes into a predicate-object structure, while starting to accept substantive or predicate objects. The third stage is when the grammaticalization starts, and the number of its accepting predicate objects is rapidly increasing. Being used as a predicate in the predicate-object relation, the syntactic position of ‘nanmian’ is the place of adverb where is easy to be grammaticalized, further providing a foundation of grammaticalization through external changes in the structure type, such as changes in the meaning of VP following. The last stage is a period when ‘nanmian’ has completely changed into an adverb through reanalyses and pragmatic reinforcement.
After the grammaticalization, this study found out that ‘nanmian(bu)VP’ constructions have three different asymmetrical aspects; they are used as a positive type and a negative type in the syntactic and semantic relations with the following component, VP, and their semantic differences become ambiguous between the positive and negative types. Besides, it was found that through the phenomenon of reversing grounds and backgrounds, the fact that the ‘nanmianVP’ construction cannot avoid the occurrence of VP becomes a ground, further orienting VP. On the other hand, the surplus negation ‘nanmianbuVP’ constructions orient ‘buVP’ by subjectively interpreting the objectively same situations as the psychological state of a speaker who does not want the occurrence of VP becomes a ground.
Accordingly, the ‘nanmian(bu)VP’ construction appears as a reanalysis through diachronic grammaticalization, based on the phenomenon of reversing grounds with backgrounds by the cognitive tendency and strategy of a conceptual speaker. Besides, through ‘bu’, speakers are able to actively and intentionally give subjective meanings, and through the ‘nanmianbuVP’ construction in a mark type against the ‘nanmianbuVP’ construction in a non-mark type, the subjectivization is realized.