英语方位倒装构式的认知语篇研究

A cognitive approach to English locative inversion constructions and their discourse functions

根据认知语言学中的图形-背景关系理论,英语方位倒装构式可视为GtF构式。在这种构式中,背景具有认知参照点的作用,图形要以背景为参照来确定其空间位置,过渡具有标明背景和图形之间的动态或静态空间关系的作用。从语篇建构的角度来看,英语GtF构式具有两种主要语篇功能:一是与上文保持衔接,二是为语篇引入新的实体。前者由背景完成,后者由图形完成。背景既有与上文衔接的功能,又可起到话语起点的作用。作为被引入语篇的新实体,图形可以充当语篇下文的话题,若图形具有空间意义,也可以成为语篇下文得以展开的场景。

Based on the Figure-Ground relation in cognitive linguistics,English locative inversion constructions may be regarded as GtF(Ground+t(ransition)+Figure) constructions,in which G serves as the cognitive reference point,F is the object to be located by reference to G,and t plays the role of indicating the dynamic or static spatial relation between G and F.From the viewpoint of discourse structuring,GtF constructions in English may perform two main discourse functions.One is to be cohesive with the preceding discourse,and the other is to introduce into the discourse a new entity.The former is carried out by G while the latter by F.Moreover,G also serves as the starting point,and F,being the newly introduced entity,may serve as the topic or the scene for the following discourse to develop as well.