英美CEO风险话语的三维评价特征建模研究

A Structural Equation Modeling Study on Three Dimensional Appraisal Features in UK and US CEOs' Risk Discourse

本研究以功能评价理论、概念隐喻和语义韵相关理论为基础,提出三维话语评价特征框架,采用语料库和结构方程建模方法,考察英美CEO风险话语中的评价特征及其对CEO风险认知的预测力。研究结果发现:1)5类功能评价标记语,7类隐喻载体词,3类语义韵搭配在CEO风险话语中存在,其中,功能评价标记语凸显。2)预期性标记语、[身体或疾病]和[战争]隐喻、积极语义韵凸显。3)3类话语评价资源通过不同路径对CEO风险认知产生直接或间接效应。就直接效应而言,3类评价特征的直接效应依次为"功能评价"、"语义韵"和"隐喻评价";就间接效应而言,a)"功能评价"通过"隐喻评价"产生间接效应;b)"功能评价"通过"语义韵评价"产生间接效应;c)"功能评价"通过"语义韵评价"中介,间接影响"隐喻评价",再产生间接效应;d)"语义韵评价"通过"隐喻评价"产生间接效应。本研究进一步验证了评价话语与CEO风险认知相关,从而影响企业决策的假设。本文对我们研究影响企业风险认知的语言因素以及商务话语教学与研究具有启示。

Based on functional appraisal theory and theories of conceptual metaphor and semantic prosody, a three dimensionalappraisal framework is established to study appraisal patterns of UK and US CEOs＇ risk discourse with corpus and structural e-quation modeling. The study yields the following findings ： 1 ） Five types of lexical markers, seven types of conceptual meta-phors and three types of semantic prosodies have been found in CEOs＇ risk discourse, among which lexical markers are pre-dominant; 2） Expected lexis, metaphors of ＂body and health＂ and ＂war＂, and positive semantic prosody are the most domi-nant ; 3 ） Three types of appraisal resources have direct or indirect effects on CEOs＇ risk perceptions along different paths. Thedirect effects are in the frequency order of appraisal lexis, prosody and metaphor and the indirect effects display differentpaths： a） ＂Appraisal lexical resource＂ has indirect effects via ＂appraisal metaphor＂ ; b） ＂Appraisal lexical resource＂ has in-direct effects via ＂appraisal prosody＂; e） ＂Appraisal lexical resource＂ has indirect effects first via ＂appraisal prosody＂ andthen via ＂appraisal metaphor＂ ; d） ＂Appraisal prosody＂ has indirect effects via ＂appraisal metaphor＂. The results of the stud-y support our hypothesis about direct or indirect correlation of appraisal discourse with CEOs＇ risk perceptions shaping corpo-rate decision-making. The study has implications for probing into the linguistic factors which influence corporate risk percep-tions and also for business discourse teaching and research.