构式演变中的语义凝聚和语义汇合——以古英语被动构式和使役构式为例

Semantic Condensing and Semantic Junction in Construction Change: A Study Based on the Analysis of Passive and Causative Constructions

过去30多年时间里,构式理论日趋成熟,在语言演变研究中不断得到更加广泛的应用。该理论强调形式与意义密切相关,语法和语义研究并重。但是,传统研究对语义的变化缺乏关注,极大地限制了构式演变研究的推进。本文提出语义凝聚和语义汇合是语义变化的核心机制。为验证该观点,本研究借助古英语语料,对被动构式和使役构式的形成与发展进行了分析,重点讨论两类构式演变过程中的语义变化。分析结果表明,语义凝聚和语义汇合在构式演变过程中起到重要作用,两者相互制衡,共同约束构式的演变方向。

Due to its rapid development,construction theory has been increasingly applied in the study of language change during the past three decades.The theory emphasizes the interrelatedness of form and meaning,focusing on the balance between grammatical and semantic studies.However,the lack of semantic exploration in previous research has greatly restricted the study of construction change.This study argues that semantic condensing and semantic junction are the two central mechanisms of semantic change.To testify the argument,the change of passive and causative constructions in Old English are analyzed with the purpose of examining the semantic change of the two constructions.The analysis shows that semantic condensing and semantic junction plays critical roles in the change of constructions.Moreover,the two mechanisms interact with each other and simultaneously control the direction of construction change.