英语名词短语中前置修饰语语序的认知理据分析

A Cognitive Approach to the Word Order of Prenominal Modifiers in English Noun Phrases

英语名词短语中前置修饰语顺序并非是任意无序的,而是受到认知因素的影响和约束,遵循一定的秩序。传统规定语法对英语前置修饰语语序类别进行了详细的描述并形式化,但对其后的动因却鲜有深究,二语学习者在使用和理解前置修饰语语序及其所体现的语义时仍有不小的障碍。认知语言学中语言结构象似性理论为解释英语名词短语中前置修饰语语序排列提供了理论基础,该理论解释了语序同感知方式以及经验结构之间的联系;对直接语料和间接语料的分析结果印证了英语名词短语中前置修饰语语序排列受认知因素影响;其排列顺序是对人类思维和认知活动轨迹的反映,是对语言结构象似性理论的体现,而学习者在了解认知普遍规律后也可以更有效组织英语名词短语中前置修饰语排列。

The word order of prenominal modifiers is not arbitrarily decided by some random factors,but cognitively motivated.By approaching the ordering of prenominal modifiers from the perspective of cognitive linguistic studies,introducing cognitive rules,this passage concludes that the linear procession of prenominal modifiers is governed by cognitive laws and mirrors general cognitive rules,a showcase of how the principle of iconicity operates in word ordering.And the knowledge of the aforementioned laws and rules provides English learners and users an efficient way to express themselves in English and facilitates second language acquisition thereof.