The Dependency-based Analysis Of Chinese Conjunctions And The Related Constructions

In all grammatical theories, the analysis of conjunctions and the related constructions(including nominal phrasal coordinate structure, predicate phrasal coordinate structure, and sentential coordinate structure, sometimes they are all named as "coordinate structure")are always problematic. In traditional grammar, the study related to conjunction is intricate. In dependency grammar, the study may be faced with a series of problems, such as determinant of head, valence explanation, functional word disposal, etc.In the semantic-oriented dependency analysis, this dissertation puts forward a consistency analysis framework for conjunctions and the related constructions. And the framework can be used for the analysis of some Chinese specific sentences, such as Ba-sentence, Bei-sentence, Ye-sentence and De-sentence, etc. In the analysis, the specific words, Ba, Bei, Ye, De, and so on, are treated as conjunctions. In the study, the dissertation also discusses some basic dependency theoretical problems, involving "head", functional word, valence, and so on. At the same time, the dissertation puts forward a semantic-oriented dependency theory. The research can provide theory for natural language processing; provide studying material for comparing and developing of linguistic theories; provide distinctive visual angle for explaining of language phenomena.The whole dissertation is composed of seven chapters:ChapterⅠ:Prolegomenon. This chapter mainly introduces the research background, reviews the state of the art, and defines the object of the study.ChapterⅡ:Introduction to dependency grammar. This chapter briefly introduces the basic properties and divergences of dependency grammar; reviews the similarities and differences between dependency grammar and the related grammar; put forwards the dissertation's basic view of dependency grammar, namely a semantic-oriented dependency theory.ChapterⅢ:The dependency-based Analysis of coordinate structures and the dependency Status of Conjunctions. This chapter proposes the analysis framework of conjunctions and the related constructions. The study holds that conjunction is one type of functional predicates, which dominates two arguments of V (-N) property. All the coordinate structures in traditional grammar, including phrasal coordination, sentential coordination, and some specific clauses can be represented consistently under this principle. The divergences of coordinate structures and some semantic problems can be explained on the specific nodes of dependency structures. The study further discusses the problem of "head", and put forwards that "head" in dependency is essentially the governor. The overall judgment of the "predicate-governor ("head")" is stated as follows:the content predicate in the sentence with single proposition is the root-governor ("head"), and the conjunction in the sentence with many propositions is the root-governor ("head"). "conjunction-governor" is not the denial of "predicates-governor", but deeply confirming it, because conjunction is one type of predicates ("functional predicates").ChapterⅣ:The dependency status of "Ba/Bei" and dependency-based analysis of the related construction. From the perspective of semantic representation, this chapter proposes that Ba/Bei("把/被")can be treated as conjunction, and the Ba/Bei-sentence("把/被"字句)can be analyzed in the frame of conjunction. The study holds that Ba and Bei have the same dependency status in the structure, which can dominate a causal Verb and a resultative Verb. The predicates in the Ba-sentence and Bei-sentence usually cannot be bare forms, which reflect the status that the Ba and Bei must dominate two verbs. In Ba-sentence and Bei-sentence, Ba and Bei may be the head, which is reflected by their names, "Ba-sentence" and "Bei- sentence". Different forms and different readings of the variety of the Ba-sentence and Bei-sentence can be explained through the specific node of the dependency structure, such as the valence of the V nodes and occurring or omission of the V nodes and N nodes. The study analyzes the commonness and individuality of new Bei-sentence in terms of the dependency structure, and predicts possibility of the new Ba-sentence. This chapter can be regarded as the specific application or evidence of the analysis frame of conjunction proposed in ChapterⅢ. ChapterⅤ:The dependency status of Ye and the dependency-based analysis of Ye-sentence. From the conflict between the conjunctional use and the part of speech disposal, this chapter proposes that Ye can be treated as conjunction in terms of dependency analysis. The study holds that in traditional grammar, Ye is an adverb, because the word's function (distribution) is related to its linearity position. But in dependency grammar, the word's function is unrelated to its linearity position, and then Ye can be naturally treated as a conjunction. Conjunction Ye must connect two propositions; in the structure Ye is the sentence's root, it can dominate the sentence's structure and semantics, which is reflected by the intuitional name of Ye-sentence. All the phenomena or property of Ye, such as conjunctional use, covert proposition, and likeness relation, can be represented by the dependency structure of conjunction. In the conjunctional pattern, such as Sui Ran... Ye("虽然…也"),Ji Shi...Ye("即使…也"), Ye connects two complex propositions, but the two conjunctions which composite the pattern are in different ranks of the structure. This chapter can be regarded as the specific application or evidence of the analysis frame of conjunction proposed in ChapterⅢ.ChapterⅥ:The dependency status of De and the dependency-based analysis of De-sentence. This chapter resolves the classic problem of De in the analysis frame of conjunction. The study assumes that different backgrounds must go with different analysis of De. In the semantic-oriented dependency analysis, De can be treated as conjunction. The property of De is that it connects two propositions, but the propositions' form and function have specific difference. De being analyzed as conjunction, may give an overall semantic interpretation of the sentence. Different approaches to solving the problem De reflect the essential differences of linguistic theories. At this point, this chapter is not only the specific application or evidence of the analysis frame of conjunction proposed in ChapterⅢ, but also a small but complete comparison of different linguistic theory.ChapterⅦ:Conclusion. This chapter is composed of the evaluation of the analysis, the main creative point of view, the value of the research, and the future work in prospect. The original idea of the dissertation lies in two points:(1) About the conjunctions and the related constructions. The study holds that conjunction is with only one function, i.e. in terms of dependency, the conjunction only dominates two arguments of V (-N) property; gives a consistency analysis of conjunctions and the related constructions; creatively analyzes some specific sentences in terms of the analysis frame of conjunction; and interprets a series of language phenomena and linguistic issues from a new angle.(2) About dependency theory. The research proposes a semantic-oriented dependency theory; holds that conjunction (and other function words) can have valence; assumes that conjunction (and other function words) can be the sentence head; and amplifies the "predicate-head (governor)" theory.