范围标记还是持续体标记——空间构式“X中”的“中”的性质、语义与功能

Scope Mark or Continuous Aspect Mark——The Nature,Semantics and Functions of “zhong”(中) in Spatial Construction“X zhong”(X 中)

空间构式"X中"的"中"作为持续体标记为时尚早:"中"为后附缀,功能上作为范围标记,起到约束VP和AP的语义、实现"X中"体词性与范围义的作用;"VP中""AP中"可以是持续时量,也可以是短促时量,时量长短、有界无界不改变"X中"构式的性质与意义;"中"在特殊语境下呈现出的特点不适于作为持续体标记普遍参照标准;"中"的语法化程度远不及持续体标记"着",也不及同为空间构式后缀的"上""下""里";"中"的演化引发疑似持续体标记争议,认知原因包括形义近似构式之间的交互影响、基于隐喻和转喻的抽象与扩展,语用原因包括构式语用创新、语言表达经济;"X中"构式未来能否完成结构性质转化,"中"能否成为持续体标记,需依据其后续演变状况方能定论。

It is too early for the “zhong”(中) in spatial construction “X zhong” to be used as a continuous aspect mark. As a suffix attachment,“zhong” functionally acts as a scope mark which constrains the semantics of VP and AP and helps to realize the aspect and scope meaning of “X zhong ”.“VP zhong” and “AP zhong” can be continuous durations as well as short periods. Long or short, bounded or unbounded, it never changes the nature and meaning of “X zhong” construction. The characteristics of “zhong” in special contexts cannot be applied as general reference standards for continuous aspect marks. Compared to relevant constructions, the grammaticalization degree of “zhong” is much lower than that of the continuous aspect mark “zhe”(着) as well as the similar attachments of spatial construction “shang”(上),“xia”(下) and “li”(里). The evolution of “zhong” leads to dispute of suspected continuous aspect mark. The cognitive reasons include the interaction between constructions of similar form and meaning, and the abstraction and extension based on metaphor and metonymy. The pragmatic reasons include the constructional pragmatic innovation and the language expression economy. Whether “X zhong” construction can complete the structural nature transformation and whether “zhong” can become a continuous aspect mark in the future depends on its subsequent evolution.