Jiang The Semantics of Chinese Classifiers and Linguistic Relativity

Erscheinungsjahr 2017
ISBN: 978-1-351-96731-0
Verlag: Taylor & Francis
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 230 Seiten

Reihe: Routledge Studies in Chinese Linguistics

The Semantics of Chinese Classifiers and Linguistic Relativity focuses on the semantic structure of Chinese classifiers under the cognitive linguistics framework, and the implications thereof on Linguistic Relativity and language acquisition. It examines the semantic correlation between a given classifier and its associated nouns. Nouns in Chinese, which are assigned specific classifiers according to their selected characteristics, reflect the process of human categorization. The concrete categories formed by the relationship between nouns and classifiers may serve to explain the conceptual structure of the Chinese language and certain underlying aspects of culture and human cognition.

Song Jiang is Assistant Professor of Chinese for the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at university of Hawai‘i at Manoa.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Jiang, Song

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Sprachwissenschaften

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Acknowledgments

List of Figures

List of Tables

Abbreviations

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Descriptive studies of Chinese classifiers: From traditional grammar to cognitive grammar

2.1 The Traditional Grammar Approach Toward Chinese and Chinese Classifiers

2.1.1 Chinese Grammar Under Western Influence

2.1.2 History of Terms Used for Chinese Classifiers

2.1.3 Y. R. Chao’s Definition and Classification of Chinese Classifiers

2.1.4 Discussion of Chao’s Definition and Classification of Chinese Measures

2.2 The Cognitive Linguistic View of Language and Classifiers

2.2.1 Cognitive Linguistics and Cognitive Semantics

2.2.2 Categorization: Prototype Theory and Radial Categories

2.2.3 Embodiment

2.2.4 Image Schema

2.2.5 Conceptual Metaphor and Metonymy

2.2.6 Polysemy

2.3 The Cognitive Approach to Chinese Classifiers

2.3.1 Distinction Between Classifiers and Measure Words: A Redefinition of Chinese Classifiers

2.3.2 The Cognition-based Functional Approach to Chinese Classifiers

2.4 Theoretical Framework, Methodology, and Expected Findings of the Present Study

2.4.1 Theoretical Framework

2.4.2 Methodology

2.4.3 Expected Findings

Chapter 3 Linguistic Relativity and Empirical Studies

3.1 Linguistic Relativity and the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

3.1.1 From Humboldt to Whorf

3.1.2 Interpretations of the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

3.2 Empirical Studies on Linguistic Relativity

3.2.1 Lexical Categorization

3.2.2 Grammatical Categorization

Chapter 4 The Etymological Origins, Embodied Bases, and Semantic Extensions of Chinese Classifiers

4.1 Body Parts

4.1.1 The Head in General

4.1.2 The Top of the Head

4.1.3 The Neck

4.1.4 The Face and the Facial Features

4.1.5 Lower Appendages

4.

Über Autor(innen)

Song Jiang is Assistant Professor of Chinese for the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at university of Hawai‘i at Manoa.