“是不是VP”问句的肯定性倾向及其类型学意义

The affirmative inclination of the shì-bù-shì+VP question and its typological significance

本文发现,"是不是VP"问句具有明显的肯定性语义倾向,这跟通常认为正反问的中性语义倾向是不一致的.我们进而比较了该格式跟一般正反问以及"吧"字是非问在信疑度上的区别,指出"是不是VP"属于"咨询型问句",并分析了该格式内部的语用类型及其内部小类的信疑度差异.最后考察了"是不是VP"格式的历史发展线索,并且指出:"是不是VP"的形成有两条发展轨迹:一从"是VP不是"紧缩而来,二从"VP是不是"移位而来;引起这种变化的内因是"是不是VP"句式比"是VP不是"具有明显的认知优势,同时也有可能受到南方方言句式"V不VO"(包括"阿是VP")的影响.因而这一现象具有语言类型学的意义.

It is found in this paper that the shì-bù-shì + VP question, different from other affirmative-negative questions, has, semantically, obvious affirmative inclination. A comparison between the shì-bù-shì + VP question and other affirmative-negative question, and the yes-no question with ba at the end in the degree of doubt shows that the shì-bù-shì + VP question is one that is consultative in nature. An analysis was made to find the pragmatic categories of this formula and the differences in the degree of doubt of the subcategories. Finally we made a chronological investigation of this formula and concluded it has a twofold origin: the contraction of shì + VP+ bù-shì and the transposition of VP +shì-bù-shì. The reason for this development lies in the fact that this formula is cognitively superior to the original ones, or probably in the influence of the dialectical formula V + bù + VO in the South. This phenomenon is significant in linguistic typology.