论英语复合词ewe lamb的合成原理

How is the compound word ewe lamb coined?

本文从语义复合的角度分析了ewe lamb一词的合成原理,以及ewe和lamb当选构件的条件,提出了相关的语义原则(或规则)。语义复制和语义渗透在ewe lamb的合成中发挥了重要作用。语义复制扩大了元素的分配范围,提高了构件选择的语义标准。这就解释了为什么ewe能入选,而fe-male、bitch、hen、girl等词则被淘汰。语义渗透原则维护了lamb的义位在其下位词ewe lamb中的状态,使得ewe和lamb之间的矛盾彻底消解。这也解释了为什么ewe没有因为包涵[ADULT]而落选。在整个复合过程中没有发现任意性的环节,ewe lamb的逻辑性丝毫不亚于定中词组female lamb。

This article offers a semantic analysis of the process whereby ewe and lamb are selected as constituents for the compound word ewe lamb, semantic principles being set forth when necessary. According to the present study, the principles of Semantic Copying(SC) and Semantic Percolation(SP) play important roles in the semantic combination of ewe and lamb. SC is employed to widen the scope of elemental distributions and raise the semantic criteria for a morpheme as candidate. That explains why ewe goes through the filter while female, bitch, girl etc. are blocked. The SP ensures that the meaning of lamb is inherited and protected in its compound hyponym, and that contradictions between ewe and lamb are dissolved. It also explains why ewe is still chosen even if the word contains the element non-adult which conflicts with adult in lamb. No arbitrary or illogical step has been found throughout the entire process of the semantic combination of ewe and lamb. So the conclusion follows that ewe lamb has no less logical motivation than female lamb, a modifier-head phrase.