Chinese Quasi-attributive Constructions: From the Perspective of Cognitive Reference Point Relationship and Metonymy

The special structure of "NP de" in Chinese quasi-attributives reflects a Chinese-specific cognitive process.Putting forward an analysis model from the perspectives of cognitive reference point and metonymy, this paper tries to give a further and unified explanation for the cognitive construction of main types of Quasi-attributive Construction, thereby fulfilling the Generalization Commitment of cognitive linguistics.According to this model, in Quasi-attributive Sentences, 1) de profiles a schematic reference point relationship, in which NP plays the role of a reference point, pointing to a particular abstract feature it possesses, and forms a reference point chain; 2) in accordance with the simplicity requirement of Chinese grammar, a certain part of this chain is omitted, the remaining part of the reference point chain metonymically expresses the whole chain; 3) the joint operation of several cognitive mechanisms can produce the effect that can not be produced when these mechanisms operate separately.