英语句法结构的嬗变对语法化的影响——以英语存现结构、被动结构、分句结构为例

英语存现结构、被动结构、分句结构皆经历了语法化过程,而引起各个结构语法化过程的主要原因是其句法结构的嬗变。Hopper&Traugott(1993)将语法化定义为:“单词或其他语言单位在语言环境中被赋予语法功能。”对于单词而言,词义通过抽象化——虚化——语法化这一过程,使其词汇表现、词义内容发生语法演变,演变为语法内容或语法形式,从而展现出新的语法功能。对于句子而言,句法结构中具有一定功能的词汇经语法化后,引起句法结构的嬗变,进而推动句式的语法化过程。实词的虚化、句法的形成皆存在语法化过程。文章以存现结构、被动结构、分句结构为例,探析英语句法结构的嬗变对语法化的影响。

Grammaticalization,which is caused by the transmutation of syntactic structure,exists in the existential structure,passive structure and clause structure.Hopper&Traugot(1993)defined grammaticalization as:"Words or other linguistic units are given grammatical functions in linguistic context."For words,grammaticalization makes lexical expression and meaning evolve into grammatical content or forms,thus enabling words to demonstrate grammatical functions.For sentences,grammaticalization causes the transmutation of syntactic structure.Grammaticalization exists in the syntactic formation as well as transformation from content words to functional ones.This paper explores the effect of transmutation of English syntactic structure on grammaticalization of existential structure,passive structure and clause structure.