20 March 2024, Volume 47 Issue 2 Previous Issue   
“The Galilean Challenge” in the Study of Language and Human Brain Sciences
SI Fuzhen
2024, 47 (2):  2-9. 
Abstract ( 54 )   Save
This article first reviews the background behind the emergence of the discipline of Language and Human Brain Sciences. It then focuses on one of the essential topics within the study of language and brain: the Galilean Challenge. The main viewpoints are as follows: 1) The concept of the Galilean Challenge represents Chomsky’s consistent thoughts on the nature of language. It shares a common theoretical concern with Plato’s Problem of language acquisition, the study of which can trace back to the tradition since the 17th and 18th centuries. This has been one of the driving factors for the intersection and infiltration of linguistics, psychology, neuroscience, biology and other related disciplines; 2) Given the diversity in language externalization, a comprehensive examination of the so-called "patchwork" externalization, encompassing implicit components, is necessary to accurately capture the true essence of the simplicity of I-language; 3) The pursuit of simplicity in studying language and human brain sciences mirrors Einstein's "Miracle Creed" in formulating scientific theories; 4) Employing the strongest cartographic strategy in exploring various explicit or implicit functional heads can significantly enhance our understanding of the Galilean Challenge.
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What Is Linguistics: The Formatting of the Linguistic Knowledge System and Its Reanalysis
HU Fanzhu, HU Yiming
2024, 47 (2):  10-18,73. 
Abstract ( 30 )   Save
The existing linguistic knowledge classification system has been developed mainly based on education, book classification, project management, introductionary textbooks and academic journals. If Chinese linguistics is to truly open up the imagination of linguistics and continuously create new theoretical paradigms, it is necessary to jump out of this “formatting”, rethink “what is language” and then put forward different assumptions about “language”. In this way, a series of linguistic research paradigms can be recognised, discovered and created: “Linguistics based on the assumption of linguistic symbol system”, “Linguistics based on the assumption of the social system”, “Linguistics based on the assumption of the behavioural process”, “Linguistics based on the assumption of the neural functions”, “Linguistics based on the assumption of the numerical process”, “Linguistics based on the assumption of activity competence”, etc. These are “goal-problem-methodology” research paradigms that are both related to each other and quite different from each other, and these paradigms are not “ontological” and “applied” or “central” and “peripheral”, but rather embedded in, supportive of, and in competition with each other.
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Clinical Pragmatics: Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Integrative Approaches
HUANG Lihe, YAO Quan
2024, 47 (2):  19-30. 
Abstract ( 39 )   Save
Clinical pragmatics is an emerging sub-discipline of clinical linguistics, providing basic description, mechanism explanation and applied diagnosis and treatment, and therefore explicitly exhibiting its distinctive interdisciplinary features. To complete the three major disciplinary missions, clinical pragmatics combines a multi-layered perspective within linguistics to characterize the patterns of pragmatic disorders; it intersects with other external disciplines, such as cognitive pragmatics and neuro-pragmatics, to elucidate the mechanisms underlying pragmatic disorders; it also integrates with social pragmatics, psychometrics, cognitive psychology to assess and intervene in pragmatic disorders. In its new developmental stage, the scope of clinical pragmatics has expanded, and its knowledge system has been constructed through neurophysiological experiments, computer and communication technology, and statistical methods from social sciences. Establishing interdisciplinary research perspectives and integrative research methods not only deepens the disciplinary connotation of clinical pragmatics, but also improves the quality of linguistic services in clinical practices, with both theoretical significance and practical values.
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Diachronic Cognitive Pragmatics: Theoretical Framework and Analytical Path
ZHANG Yanfei, ZHANG Shaojie
2024, 47 (2):  31-39. 
Abstract ( 36 )   Save
Given the limitations of cognitive pragmatics, this paper proposes Diachronic Cognitive Pragmatics integrating diachrony, cognition and pragmatics. It is intended to expound the entrenchment-conventionalization process of pragmatic meanings from a diachronic perspective, revealing the paths of changes in word meanings. The paper argues that utterance-token meanings evolve into utterance-type meanings through entrenchment, and utterance-type meanings evolve into new coded meanings through conventionalization. Different types of meanings are not easy to be distinguished, as a result of the frequency of repeated usage. This study sheds new light on the study of polysemy of words.
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Chinese Word Classes and Class/Function Correspondences from the Cognitive Grammar Perspective
PANG Jiaguang
2024, 47 (2):  40-49. 
Abstract ( 35 )   Save
The multiple correspondences between word classes and syntactic functions in Chinese pose a great challenge to the definition and classification of word classes, leading to debates over whether Chinese word classes pertain to the noun-verb inclusion or noun-verb division model. From the cognitive grammar perspective, word classes, e.g., nouns, verbs and adjectives reside in profiling, rooted in different cognitive operations. The match or mismatch between word classes and syntactic functions is derived from the categorization (i.e., instantiation and extension) of words by the functional position in relevant grammatical constructions, particularly low-level constructions. The correspondences between the verb phrase and subject/object, the noun phrase and predicate, as well as the conversions triggered by “XP de YP” or “hen X” are all motivated by these two types of categorization. Unlike English, Chinese prefers implicit coding strategies over explicit ones, leading to a significant number of words that belong to multiple word classes. Contrary to the word class-centered view presupposed by noun-verb inclusion and noun-verb division models, the construction-centered view posits that the class of a word is derived from the categorization of the grammatical construction it enters, and the phenomenon of one word belonging to more than one class poses no theoretical problem for Chinese word classes.
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Rhetorical Markers and Background Propositions——The Syntax-Semantic Analysis of Chinese na
LU Zhijun, SHI Dingxu
2024, 47 (2):  50-59. 
Abstract ( 40 )   Save
This thesis attempts to explain the mismatch between the structural form and its deep expression exhibited by na rhetorical questions from the syntax-semantic interface. The speaker uses the na rhetorical question in conversation to express the mirativity toward the background proposition of the question, and then uses the local proposition to express the illocutionary negative assertion. The syntactic environment (intonational yes-no questions) of na rhetorical questions expresses the interrogative force, but the na rhetorical questions express the illocutionary negative assertion. The lexical factor of this force shift is na’s strong negative polarity, but its syntactic factor is the three dependencies triggered by na’s strong negative polarity: de-Q operation, covert movement and illocutionary negative assertion.
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A Multivariate Analysis of the Diachronic Changes of Delexicalized Verb Zuo (Do): Based on the Diachronic Multiple Corpora (1949-2019)
ZHAO Qiurong, XIE Xue'e
2024, 47 (2):  60-73. 
Abstract ( 24 )   Save
Based on the diachronic multiple corpora (1949-2019), the present paper examines the diachronic changes of delexicalized verb (do) by using a multivariate analysis. The findings show that (1) delexicalized verb zuo has been more and more frequently used in both translated Chinese and non-translated native, in particular, in translated Chinese, partly due to special functions of delexicalized verb or risk aversion in the process of translation. (2) In translated Chinese, delexicalized verbs zuo are modelled on English delexicalized verb structures, which may be a demonstration of the source text shining-through. And those English sentences with long subjects also prefer to use more delexicalized verb zuo in translated texts, which may be evidence of adaptation to the norms in Chinese language. The interaction of source text shining-through and normalization may have played a role in the diachronic changes of delexicalized verb zuo. This paper argues that translation-induced diachronic changes of delexicalized verb zuo as an anchor point is hoped to provide new insights into the mechanism for translation-induced language contact.
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Translation Studies from the Perspective of International Communication
YUAN Xiaoyi
2024, 47 (2):  74-81. 
Abstract ( 33 )   Save
In recent years the term international communication has been most active in the foreign languages discipline, where it sometimes is employed almost as a synonym of translation, or “translating China.” Starting from the respective essence of international communication and translation, this paper reviews the development of the translation theories, examines the similarities and differences between international communication and translation, and attempts, in light of the former, to formulate the new problematics of translation studies and speculate on possible changes in this particular field.
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Distant Reading and Metadata: A Study of Translation Knowledge Transfer in the Big Data Era
GENG Qiang, WANG Yao
2024, 47 (2):  82-95. 
Abstract ( 35 )   Save
In the current era of big data, translation knowledge production has posed dramatic challenges to the translingual dissemination of translation knowledge with regard to quantity and time. On the one hand, the conclusions derived from translation book reviews are under suspicion due to the methods of close reading adopted. On the other hand, the exponential quantity of metadata produced in today’s knowledge production has pathetically remained unexplored if not ignored altogether. This article argues that metadata should be better viewed as paratext in digital era, and only by using certain technological tools can knowledge be created. Drawing on a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods and in particular Moretti’s distant reading method, this article collects the metadata of the research monographs and collections in English published in recent 6 years and then analyzes what knowledge can be gained for a renewed vision of the cross-cultural transferring of translation knowledge in today’s world.
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Intersubjective Psychoanalysis and Translation Studies: Paths, Alignments and Interpretations
ZHANG Keren
2024, 47 (2):  96-106. 
Abstract ( 41 )   Save
Intersubjective psychoanalysis is a popular topic in contemporary psychoanalytic research. Its development path of gradually dissolving the binary division within the discipline is aligned with the development history of Translation Studies (TS). The study first explored the relatedness of the two from the concepts of “relevant theories”, “dialogue” and “space”, and found the clinical methods and logics that integrate both the “internal and external” factors upheld by intersubjective psychoanalysis school can help us renovate the map of TS. In addition, they can, based on the presuppositions of co-existence, co-possession, and co-relation, broaden the theoretic horizons, enrich methodologies, and extend topics of the current translation studies. The article also sorted out the development routes of the two disciplines, outlined connections between them, and proposed eighteen possible pathways for future descriptive translation studies with cross-disciplinary TS studies as the core and psychoanalysis as a tool. That may develop the current discourse of translation criticism, deepen our understanding of the translation nature, and widen the channel for further dialogue, mutual learning, and integration between the two disciplines.
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Terms with xing (性) in Translation Studies: Phenomenon and Its Analysis
ZHOU Lingshun, PENG Baiyu
2024, 47 (2):  107-116. 
Abstract ( 31 )   Save
There have appeared a series of terms in the Chinese translation studies, of which, the terms with xing (性, attribute/ property/ nature) are most commonly used. However, conflicts ensue: are there any differences between “translatability” and “faithfulness” with xing or not? Why do the researchers prefer the terms with xing? What’s at play for the terms from English to Chinese to take xing? It is found that the terms with xing always come along with the discussions of the essence of translation as the principal line. They are either loaned and accepted in different Chinese translation studies dictionaries or coined and appeared in the titles of some articles. Under the conditions of disagreements on the essence of translation, the terms with xing are used more frequently with imprecison. Though some of them are coined for innovation, others are used arbitrarily. In this light, this article sorts them out by analysing their different semantic relations and categories, and clarifying their scopes of application. It is expected that the findings will contribute to the sound development of Chinese translation studies as a discipline.
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A Comparative Study of Sentiment Words in Literary Translation——A Case Study of Who Do You Think You Are and Its Chinese Translations
ZHANG Jidong, DU Ruofan
2024, 47 (2):  117-128. 
Abstract ( 29 )   Save
Based on the English-Chinese parallel corpus of Munro’s novel Who Do You Think You Are, this paper makes a comparative study of the sentiment words (SW), as well as the stylistic features reflected by them, of the original text and its two Chinese translations by Liao Xiuyu and Deng Ruoxu respectively. It employs text sentiment analysis, combining both quantitative and qualitative methods. The results show that the three texts are different from each other in three aspects: namely “SW density (SWD)”, “SW strength (SWS)” and sentimental flow pattern (SFP). The two translations are higher than the original text in SWD, but lower in SWS, especially among negative sentiment words. This is largely due to the employment of amplification, mitigation, omission, incorporation, conversion, etc. in the two translations. The two translations mainly differ in the usage of negative sentiment words, which chiefly results from the different preferences in the adoption of sentiment words with different parts of speech or strength. There is a significant difference in the negative SFP among the three texts. The reasons behind the differences can be attributed to the Chinese-Western cultural identity, geographical backgrounds of the two translators, translation strategies, etc. This study adds a new dimension to translation stylistics by exploreing the translations at the sentimental level.
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