if条件句与充分条件性——if构块式理据的研究

If-Conditionals and Sufficient-Conditionality

多种不同的语义关系都可以进入if条件句,Sweetser提出三域进行分析;这一分析细致深入,但略嫌共性概括不足。充分条件性是if构块式大家族的背后同一理据的假设;据此,if条件句大家族分为两大构块式群,下分四小类。这个大家族是一个典型范畴,第一小类典型条件句作为充分条件假言判断的语言表达形式是最典型的成员,以下各小类向着边缘成员演变,构成了一个连续统。对if条件句的理解,要通过常规推理,将从句一主句的关系补足为充分条件同其结果的关系。if条件句的多种意义最后都可回归到充分条件性,这就是各类if条件句最后都可归入if构块式大家族的同一理据。这一研究再一次表明了含意本体论的常规关系和常规推理理论在研究构块式的理据方面可能起的作用。

It is common occurrence in language use that diversified contents, even contents without conditional relations, can be woven in if-conditionals. Sweetser examines conditionals in the light of the ＂three domains＂, providing a detailed and systematic analysis of them. However, it seems that the common motivation underlying the formation of the whole if-construction remains untouched. This paper attempts to tackle this question by putting forward the ＂ Sufficient-conditionality Hypothesis＂. Accordingly, if-conditionals can be classified into two groups, which are further subdivided into four sub-types. These four types form a continuum： from the prototypical conditionals to the peripheral ones in different degrees. The specific interpretation of each type of conditionals is arrived at on the basis of stereotypical reasoning, with the help of which the semantic gaps are filled in, and sufficient-conditionality shown in different types of conditionals becomes apparent, thus showing that it is sufficient-conditionality is the underlying motivation behind the formation of if-construction. The study shows that stereotypicality and stereotypical reasoning can be the methodological tool in the research on the motivation of constructions.