Research On Asymmetry Function Of Substantive Syntax In Modern Chinese

Expounding the phenomenon of the asymmetry function of substantive syntax, the author intends to reveal the mechanism and further causes result in the asymmetry function through describing the phenomenon of typical and untypical substantive syntax function. The author does this research by means of some theories of generative grammar and cognitive linguistics as well as takes references from the methods of constructive grammar and system functional grammar. Basing on the descriptive generalization and contrastive analysis, she tries to explain the substantive syntax asymmetry and to summarize the inner grammar rules in seven parts.I. Introduction. Illumination and definition of"asymmetry function". In terms of syntax, if a word keep a one-to-one relationship with its syntax function, we name it"symmetry function", otherwise, we name it"asymmetry function". It is universal phenomenon for symmetry and asymmetry function from macroscopic view to microscopic view. Symmetry is"unobservable", so any asymmetry function is"observable". By utilizing the asymmetry function between the substantive and its syntax function in Chinese, we can change the"unobservable"factors into the"observable"factors. By this way, we can generalize the grammar regularities in Chinese.II. Research on the noun syntax functional asymmetry. Basing on the obvious spatial features of noun, author gives a thorough description and analysis to the spatial asymmetry when a noun is used as a subject, an object or a modifier. Noun used as a subject usually has a feature of life, while the discreteness is the characteristic of life. The discreteness is reflected in asymmetry characteristic of spatial hemicontinuous features. It is also a typical syntax function for a noun to be used as an object that usually is the meaning focus of the whole sentence. A noun can play a role of topic when it is in the place of subject, and the asymmetry between the topic and the focus makes the function of a noun used as an object stronger. Apart from this, author also offers analysis and discussion to the asymmetry, which results from spatial features, of modifier asymmetry and the mark elements'present and absent. Author expounds the untypical noun syntax function of being used as predicate at the end of the chapter.III. Research on the verb syntax functional asymmetry. Basing on the clear time characteristic of verb, this chapter describes, analyzes and discusses the asymmetry of verbs'typical , untypical features and conversion of verb-predicator sentences. Meanwhile, author also analyzes the asymmetry problems caused by disagreement between the syntax functional relationship and syntax position and reveals the strong-weak change of time, the shift of meaning focus and the effect of functional mark itself to the verb in the syntax structure.IV. Research on the adjective syntax functional asymmetry. The first should be done is to redefine the object adjective and the action adjective in terms of cognitive linguistics and discuss their positions in serious substantive system. Then, basing on the directive analysis to the adjective modifier's meaning., the dissertation offers the description and analysis to the syntax function of object adjective and action adjective. At last, from the view of adjective-modifier and adjective- adverbial present and absent marker:"的""地", author expounds the asymmetry of typical adjective syntax function.V. Research on the asymmetry of the identification on syntax function. In terms of meaning analysis and word structure distinction the dissertation offers a thorough description and analysis to the syntax functional asymmetry phenomenon when they are used as modifiers, subjects and objects and also manages to expound the semantic and pragmatic reasons behind the syntax rules. At last, taking"男,女"as a typical example, author analyzes and discourses the asymmetry of the collation between the distinctive words and the other phrases. Research on the adverb syntax functional asymmetry. Mainly describes and analyzes some of the degree adverb and the descriptive adverb when they are used as adverbial and complement. From the view of grammaticalization, author expounds the reason and phenomenon of syntax asymmetry. Contrasting the degree adverbs and the descriptive adverbs on different positions, author analyzes the semantic direction, semantic focus, types of writing and the frequency of adverb utilizing.