语义研究中的原型范畴理论

The Role of Prototype Theory in Semantic Study

原型范畴理论认为,范畴内各成员的地位是不平等的,有中心成员和边缘成员之分;范畴间的界线是模糊的;范畴是围绕其原型,而不是凭充要条件建立起来的。原型范畴理论的这些观点可以用来解释语义范畴的内部结构,如多义词的各个释义有中心义和边缘义之分,题元角色是围绕原型施事和原型受事组织的,等等。本研究证明,原型范畴理论能为多义词范畴的词义扩展机制和题元角色的界定提供更有说服力的阐释。

This paper briefly introduces the origin and main points of Prototype Theory, analyzes the differences between Prototype Theory and the Classical Theory of Categories, and with the analysis of polysemous words and the defining of thematic roles as examples inquires in detail into the influence of Prototype Theory on the study of meaning. The research concludes that Prototype Theory is of great practical value for defining semantic categories and for understanding the relationship between the different senses of a polysemous word.