对空间义的区分:名词的属性义表达(二)——主宾语位置上名词的属性义表达

Differentiation of Spatial Meaning:Expression of Noun Properties(2)

文章从对名词的空间义与其他意义类型进行区分这个立足点出发,分析了现代汉语名词在主宾语位置上表达属性义时的形式与语义上的特点。文章认为,此时指"个"接近指"类"用法的个体量词,正是实体名词不指称实体而指称实体的"属性"事物的形式标记。并认为现代汉名词对属性义的表达,存在一个从主宾语位置,再到定语位置、谓语位置、再到"‘很’类副词+N"格式、状语位置这样一个发展过程与过渡阶段;这个阶段中的每一步,名词的指称功能在逐步消弱,名词的空间义在逐步消失,与形容词、区别词逐步接近,但名词表属性义时一定程度上还残留些空间义与弱指称功能,同时还具有主观性与模糊性特征。

This paper starts with a distinction of nouns in its spatial meanings and other meaning categories and proceeds to analyze various forms and semantic traits of modern Chinese nouns used as subjects and objects.As is opined in the paper,when individual classifiers denoting ＂specific objects＂ are used similarly as those indicative of the ＂category＂,what entity nouns denote are the formal marks for the ＂attributes＂ of substance-signifying matters rather than substances themselves.It is also held that there is a developmental process and a transitional phase from subjects and objects through attributes to predicates to the pattern of ＂adverbs of the ＇very＇ category ＋N＂ and to adverbials in the expression of property meanings by modern Chinese nouns.Along with every step of the process there would be a gradual decline in the signifying function of nouns as well as a gradual disapperance of their spatial meanings,thus causing nouns to be clsoer to adjectives and differentiating words in functions.However,nouns still somewhat embrace some spatial meanings and weak signifying functions,and are characterized by subjectivity and vagueness.