语法系统对构式选择的制约——英汉比较结构差异的原因

The Constraints of Grammatical System on Constructions: The Motivations for the Different Comparison Constructions in Chinese and English

  • 摘要: 文章通过分析英汉比较构式的异同,论证一种语言的整体语法系统会对其具体构式选择起制约作用。在比较形容词的程度或动词的状态时,英语的比较句的谓语结构保持不变,而汉语的谓语结构则必须转换成动补结构才行。此外,汉语还具有表达比较范畴的动宾结构,英语则没有对应的构式。英汉之间的这种差异是由两种语言语法的整体特征决定的,汉语的动补构式高度能产,导致汉语句子组织信息原则的产生,要求那些结果成分必须置于谓语中心之后作补语,而英语虽然也有动补构式,可是其能产性极低,不存在汉语这种句子组织信息原则。该文的分析不仅可以深入认识英汉语法的共性和个性,而且也对构式语法理论建设具有重要的意义,可以解释为何同样的功能范畴会在不同语言中表现为不同的构式。

     

    Abstract: Through analyzing the differences and commonalities of the comparison constructions in English and Chinese, this paper reveals that the usages of concrete constructions are governed by the overall system of the grammar of a particular language. When the degree of adjectives and the adverbials of verbs are compared, Chinese has to transform the predicate into a ‘verb-resultative’ construction while English keeps the same ‘adverbial-verb’. Moreover, Chinese has certain ‘verb-object’ constructions which serve to express comparison, but English does not have such equivalent. The ‘verb-resultative’ in Chinese is extremely productive and frequently used, and, consequently, a new information organizing principle for sentences emerges in the language. This principle requires that any resultative constituents must appear after the verb or adjective as a complement. By contrast, English does not have such an organizing principle. The present analysis is helpful for understanding the two grammars of Chinese and English. In the meantime, it makes a crucial contribution to the theory of constructions, revealing the interaction between specific constructions and the whole grammatical system.

     

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