英语层级性反义词再研究——层级性的本质与英语反义词的再分类

A Revisit to English Gradable Antonyms:Essential Properties of Gradability and Reclassification of English Opposites

整理反义词的杂类,让长期以来因无法归于互补性反义词和层级性反义词之列,而被当作特例的一些性质反义词有所归属。层级性源于说话者的语用需求并且有语义层级和语用层级之分。语用层级是临时性的,任何性质反义词均有语用层级的用法。当语用层级固化成为反义词的内在属性时,便成为永久性的、稳定的语义层级。语义层级具有语义上的延展性和偏袒性,语用上的相对性,认知主体的主观性和认知上的趋近性。

The notion of oppositeness lies everywhere in everyday language. Two opposites are paradigmatic relations of interdependence and inter-constraint in lexical level. The division of complementaries and gradable antonyms in adjective opposites is well established among linguists. However this classification seems to be inexhaustible, leaving many opposite pairs as exception, including those which share both the property of gradability and complementarity and those in which one element is gradable while another is absolute. Gradability is originated from pragmatic needs. Temporary application of gradability into opposites is named as pragmatic gradability. The frequent application makes the gradable use internalized in opposite pairs, and therefore generates the steady semantic gradability. Gradablity is characterized by extendibility, committedness, relativity, subjectivity and non-prototypicality.