从词汇触发理论角度透视中外学者转述动词认知图式的建构——以suggest和show为例

The Cognitive Schematic Construction as Reflected in the Use of Reporting Verbs:A Case Study of“suggest”and“show”

本文根据Hoey(2005)提出的词汇触发理论,以suggest和show为例考察转述动词在中外生命科学英语论文语料库中的词汇触发频率以及词汇搭配、语法建构、语义关联和语篇衔接等触发模式的异同。研究发现,show在中国学者英语论文语料库中的频率显著高于外国学者英语论文语料库,而suggest的频率正好相反。在词汇搭配模式方面,外国学者似乎有更多的选择和自由度。在语法建构模式方面,中外学者都倾向用X+Verb+(that)+Prep.Phr.(of/in)和This/These+n/+verb结构,但中国学者更倾向用as+Verb(过去式)+by/in结构。在语义关联模式方面,中外学者都倾向用show to和be suggested to,但中国学者常误用show来陈述自己没有把握的结果。在语篇触发模式方面,中国学者似乎更重视衔接手段的显化。

Drawing on the Lexical Priming Theory proposed by Michael Hoey(2005),this paper examines the similarities and differences of the frequency,lexical collocation,grammatical construction,semantic association,and textual collocation of such reporting verbs as“suggest”and“show”in the Chinese-authored and internationalauthored research articles in the field of life sciences.It is found that Chinese scholars tend to prime the use of“show”in English academic writing while international scholars are inclined to use suggest in English research articles.International scholars appear to have more choice and freedom in the reporting verbs’lexical collocations.Both Chinese and international scholars dispose to prime the grammatical construction pattern of“X+Verb+(that)+Prep.Phr.(of/in),This/These+n/+verb”for“suggest”and“show”.However,Chinese scholars are more likely to prime“as+Verb(past tense)+by/in”.Both Chinese and international scholars are prone to the semantic association of“show to”and“be suggested to”,but Chinese scholars have probably misused“show”in English academic writing to state results that they are not sure of.In terms of textual priming,Chinese scholars pay more attention to the explicitation of cohesive devices in English academic writing.