否定结构的语篇功能

Textual functions of negative constructions

否定和肯定是语言中对立的语法范畴,构成小句的归一性系统。一般认为,否定是有标记项而肯定是无标记项,但二者具有不对称性。说话者在否定一个命题时不仅相信该命题为假,而且认为听话者可能相信该命题为真。也就是说,否定命题预设了相应的肯定命题的存在。否定结构的标记性和预设性赋予了该结构特定的语篇功能。在语篇的信息流中,否定结构具有将背景信息前景化的功能,并通过信息的疏导和修正对信息流进行调整,保证信息流的畅通。在语篇的宏观结构层面上,否定结构往往与"否认-修正"、"否认-根据"和"假设-真实"等语篇组织模式相联系,成为语篇组织的重要手段。

As opposing grammatical categories,negative and positive constructions constitute the polarity system of language.However,these two categories are asymmetrical.A negative proposition very often presupposes its positive counterpart.In the information flow of discourse,negative constructions can be used to foreground background information and regulate information flow through channeling and repairing information.At the macro-level of discourse structure,negative constructions are especially associated with denial-correction,denidal-basis and hypothetical-real textual patterns,and thus are employed as important means of discourse organization.