基于事件结构的英语意动构式研究

An Event Structure-based Study on English Conative Constructions

本文首先对英语意动构式的定义和构式意义做了解读,然后重点探讨了英语动词的事件结构特征对意动构式成活的影响。研究发现,英语意动构式的成活,除了其事件结构中本身须含有"接触"和"运动"两个子事件外,动词往往还须具备可以方便地通过"接触"预测"运动"或者通过"运动"预测"接触"的特点。此外,研究还发现,蕴含两个以上子事件的英语动词一般不能进入该构式,主要原因是,此时意动构式的触发词at在行使对子事件的否定功能时,容易违背语言使用中的经济原则。

This paper first provides an explanation for the definition and constructional meaning of English conative constructions, and then focuses its emphasis on the effect of the properties of English verbs＇ event structure on the well-formedness of such constructions. It is found that a well-formed English conative construction should not only entail the two subevents of ‘contact＇ and ‘ motion＇, but also be characterized by its verb＇ s cognitive property of convenient prediction of ‘ motion＇ via ‘ contact＇ or vice versa. It is also found that verbs entailing more than two subevents are usually unlikely to be used in such constructions. The main reason for this is that the use of at, the trigger of such constructions, is quite liable to violate the economy principle in language use.