论“牛犊”一词的解码原理

How is the Compound Word niu - du （牛犊 ） Decoded？

本文从语义复合的角度出发,对＂牛犊＂的解码原理进行了详细的、形式化的描述。讨论的焦点放在＂牛犊＂的三个解码式上。其一,＂牛犊＂解码为‘成年牛和小牛＇（古汉语）。其二,＂牛犊＂解码为‘小牛＇（现代汉语）。其三,＂牛犊＂解码为‘牛和小牛＇。作者为它们设定了相应的条件。＂牛犊＂（小牛）在结构上很容易促成＂犊＂的跨类泛化。＂虎犊＂（虎子）一词的出现可以充当例证。可见＂犊＂的跨类泛化已初露苗头。待泛化完成后,＂牛犊＂的解码过程也将发生些微的改变,因为此时的＂牛＂已不再是冗余的,而是一个必需的限定成分。

This article is intended to offer a detailed, formal explanation of the processes whereby the compound word niu - du （ calf, i.e. an imma- ture cow/bull） is decoded. The focus is confined to the following three formu- lae ： 1 ） niu - du is decoded as cow/buU and calf （ as in classic Chinese） ; 2 ） niu - du is decoded as calf alone （ as in modem Chinese） ; 3 ） niu - du is decoded as cattle and calves. A series of rules or principles are set forth for these formulae so that each can produce the desired output. The structure of niu -du （meaning calf） tends to form a misconception that the word is com- posed of niu as modifier （ meaning bovine） and du as head （ meaning certain young mammals including calves）. That will lead du to a cross - species broadening in terms of its scope of reference. In fact, the appearance of hu - du （TIGER- CALF, young tiger） the cross - species broadening is co place in the decoding process of niu can serve as a piece of evidence. When mpleted, a slight change is sure to take -du （calf） , because niu, once a redun- dant component, will become an obligatory modifier when an immature cow/ bull is referred to.