Zero-verbal Existential Construction: Syntactic and Semantic Features and Cognitive Interpretation

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-8921.2022.03.015

Abstract

Abstract:

Zero-verbal Existential Construction is a special type of Chinese Existential Construction. This paper classifies Zero-verbal Existential Construction through the semantic relations between NP_L and NP in space and explores the syntactic and semantic features of Zero-verbal Existential Construction. Specifically, Zero-verbal Existential Construction is usually formed as ‘NP_L NP’ structure and it mainly includes three types: partially-occupied ‘NP_L NP,’ fully-quantitative ‘NP_L NP’ and all-around ‘NP_L NP.’ Extreme spatiality, which is reflected in the spatiality of the scene of ‘existence’ encoded by the constructional constituents of ‘NP_L NP’ structure, is the most prominent semantic feature of Zero-verbal Existential Construction. Within the framework of cognitive linguistics, this paper claims that Zero-verbal Existential Construction conforms to the principle of cognitive economy, and it is a construction based on ‘Container Schema’ and expressing the scene of ‘existence’ through the grounded quantitative structure. Due to the high degree of spatiality in Chinese and Zero-verbal Existential Construction, ‘NP_L NP’ structure expressing the scene of ‘existence’ is not allowed in many other languages.

Key words: Zero-verbal Existential Construction, syntactic and semantic features, spatiality, cognitive interpretation

CLC Number:

H030

CAO Yang, TONG Jiawei. Zero-verbal Existential Construction: Syntactic and Semantic Features and Cognitive Interpretation[J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2022, 22(3): 131-139.

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