数据驱动的“V+他/它无指+X”构式研究

Data-driven Exploration of “V+Taexpletive+X” Construction

现代汉语第三人称代词“他/它”的无指用法一直备受语言学界关注。既有研究从多个角度探究了“V+他/它无指+X”结构,但部分问题仍未完全厘清。本文在构式语法观照下,基于CCL现代汉语语料库,对包含无指代词“他/它”的“V+他/它无指+X”表达式进行穷尽式统计分析。研究发现:1)“他/它无指”语义空虚,但尚未虚化为附着形式,仍是独立的占位成分;且具有加强语气作用,本身无任何具体的语用含义;2)“V+他/它无指+X”构式具有高能产性、高图式性、低组构性,反映了汉语作为语用型语言的隐含复杂性特征。因此认为,基于数据的研究路径、注重结构与语义及语用因素的互动,有助于揭示语言的本质属性和运作机制。

The expletive use of third person single pronountais a long-debated issue in linguistic study. Based on an exhaustive corpus survey of CCL, this paper investigates the expletive and its corresponding non-canonical “ V +Taexpletive+X” construction in Mandarin Chinese. We propose that: 1) semantically and syntactically, expletivetahas no actual reference in real world, but it has not grammaticalized into a clitic, which is still an isolated place-holder;pragmatically, it serves as an amplifier, strengthening different tones in different contexts. 2) From the perspective of construction grammar, “V+Taexpletive+X” conveys that the speaker holds some subjective intention towards the event expressed by “V+X”, and has the properties of high productivity, high schematicity and low compositionality, which implies the hidden complexity of the pragmatic nature of Chinese. The study shows that by placing a high premium on usage-based analysis and the interaction between syntax, semantics and pragmatics, we can probe deeper into the nature and working mechanism of language.