A Study Of The Collocations Of "Gao(高)/Shen(深)+N(P)" And Their Constrained Mechanism Of Semantic Interfaces

The paper first works out the semantic features of the two adjectives "gao(高)”and "shen(深)”,and then, on the basis of the features, discusses the semantic constrained mechanism when they are in collocation with nouns or noun phrases."gao(高)”and "shen(深)”,restrictly speaking, are not antonyms or synonyms, but closely related in both indicating measurement. The collocations of "gaoshan(高山)/shenshan(深山)”and "gaocao(高草)/shencao(深草)”serve as examples, and on the other hand they are confusing. By comparing the collocations of "gao(高)”and "shen(深)”with the same noun or noun phrases can more of their common features and unique features be revealed.As semantic features are vital to the composition of lexical meaning, the semantic features of "gao(高)”/"shen(深)”as well as the collocated nouns are examined and matched, and they fall into two categories:the basic semantic interface and the detailed semantic interface. Six groups of semantic interfaces of "gao(高)”and "shen(深)”are also summarized as the following: "gao(高)”：[span] [large in value] [upward]; [one-dimensional] [bearable] [conspicuous] "shen(深)”：[span][large in value] [inward]; [three-dimensional] [containable] [obscure]Among the features, [upward] and [inward] are the most determining, and from which derived the detailed semantic interfaces.The semantic interfaces are the internal semantic mechanism of the collocations, guaranteeing its acceptability in grammar and sufficiency in meaning.The semantic interfaces are indispensable to the collocations. At the same time, many other essential factors such as rhythm, subcategorization, and some cognition exert their influence on them.The semantic functions of "gao(高)”and "shen(深)”coordinate with the syntactic and pragmatic functions of the respective collocations.When collocated with the same noun, the phrases "gao(高)+N" and "shen(深)+N" show different use tendency and pragmatic values. Observations of all these contents contribute to reveal the overall law of the use of "gao(高)”and "shen(深)”.