“性状—事物”类语法隐喻的经验意义变化

Experiential Semantic Change in Quality-Thing Grammatical Metaphor

意义变化是语法隐喻理论的核心问题,但并未得到充分的重视。本文依据语言的维度,聚焦"性状—事物"类概念隐喻,通过语料分析,从词汇语法和语境两个层面寻找语法隐喻经验意义变化的依据。研究发现,在从一致式到隐喻式的转变过程中,主要产生4种类型的经验意义变化:语义抽象、语义概括、语义特化(包含"获得技术性"和"增强技术性")、语义模糊(包含"内在歧义"和"外在歧义");这些不同类型的经验意义变化由相应的词汇语法形式体现,同时受到语境因素的促动。

Semantic change is an essential aspect of the theory of grammatical metaphor, but has not received due attention. On the basis of the dimensions of language, a data-supported empirical research is conducted to seek evidence of semantic change from the strata of both lexicogrammar and context by focusing on quality-thing ideational metaphor. It has been discovered that four major types of experiential semantic change occur in the transference from the congruent mode to the metaphorical mode: semantic abstraction, semantic generalization, semantic specialization(including ‘acquired technicality’and ‘intensified technicality’), and semantic obscuration(including ‘internal ambiguity’ and ‘external ambiguity’). The lexicogrammatical realizations and the controlling contextual factors of these changes are further explored.