指类句何以容忍例外?——指类句的语用分析

Why Generic Sentences Tolerate Exceptions——A Pragmatic Approach to Generic Sentences

指类句(例如Birds fly.)的特点之一是容忍例外。传统研究的局限性在于只注重指类句的表征性而忽视了其对话性。从对话性特征看,指类句是一种话题结构,句中的指类词集逻辑主词、句子主语和话题于一身,因此指类句的谓词实际上是对由其主词充当的话题的说明。从认知上看,话题设立了从认知参照点到目标心理路径的认知域。认知域的结构形态具有动态性,由此指类词的指称具有选择性。

One of the important features of generic sentences is their tolerance of exception .Most ap-proaches to generic sentences focus on the notion of ‘stereotype’ in their research paradigms with the dia-logic aspect of generic sentences untouched .Considering the dialogic nature of natural language use ,ge-neric sentences can be considered as a topic construction ,w here generic terms play a multiple role of logic subject ,sentential subject and conversational topic .A topic defines the references of the generic term by containing the property denoted by the predicate of the generic sentence .The underlying cognitive mecha-nism is that the topic defines a cognitive domain where a reference point is directed to the target by way of a psychological path .T he cognitive domain is structurally dynamic ,w hich makes it possible for a generic term to select its references .