| Conciseness,accuracy,and adequacy of learner‘s dictionary entry definitions have significant impacts on learners‘language acquisition overall,and in particular lexical acquisition.Definitions in mainstream learner‘s dictionaries are admirably more in line with the above three criteria?Yu&Du 2010?.By contrast,many domestic Learner‘s Dictionaries of Chinese as a Foreign Language?LDCFL?follow more or less the definition style of Modern Chinese Dictionary,with only minor changes of specific words,or ways of expressing?Cai,2018:60?.Therefore,it is meaningful to explore definition conventions in high-quality English learner‘s dictionaries in comparison with those in LDCFL to better inform the compilation of the latter.A local grammar is?a grammar that describes the language features of specific language patterns or specific kinds of language use??Cheng,2012:215?.The way of depicting a particular meaning/function or phenomenon more systematically and synthetically makes it more effective and its value in describing sublanguage has been proved.From the perspective of functional analysis,the functions realized by word sequences in definitions are not general functions at the macro level of the language system,but local functions closely related to the sub-language of dictionary definitions.Therefore,the function-oriented local grammar is more suitable for functional analysis of definition language and for detailed description of the process of how the structural elements realize their defining functions,and helps to more accurately unveil the patterns of definitions.Therefore,a local grammar approach is effective for studying dictionary definitions.The present study extracted definition phrases for shell nouns from Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary(8th Edition,2010)and The Commercial Press Learner's Dictionary of Contemporary Chinese?2006?,based on the list of shell nouns made by Schmid?2000?.Twenty structurally idiosyncratic definitions were not included in the study.On this basis,these definition phrases were annotated manually,using re-designed labels with reference to those designed by Sinclair?1991?and Barnbrook?1995;2002?,according to their components‘functions.The study unveiled the local grammar patterns of English and Chinese definition phrases respectively,and highlighted their distributional patterns.It then proceeded to make a comparison between local grammars of English and Chinese definitions from three perspectives:component sequences,linguistic realizations of components,and correspondences between English and Chinese components,with the aim of revealing similarities and differences between definition patterns of English and Chinese shell nouns.The present study aims to answer the following research questions:1.What are the main local grammar patterns of English and Chinese definitions?2.What are the differences of local grammars of definitions between English andChinese??1?What are the differences of component sequences between English and Chinese??2?What are the differences of component realizations between English and Chinese??3?What are the correspondences between English and Chinese components?The major findings demonstrate that there are six local grammar patterns in bothEnglish and Chinese definitions.Similarities and differences between these two local grammars are reflected in following aspects:?1?English and Chinese local grammar patterns are linear structures varying in different component positioning.The former extends rightward while the latter leftward.?2?Linguistic forms realizing a certain defining function are in a paradigmatic relationship,and constitute a defining system.One defining function can be realized by more than one linguistic form,which leads to the intersection of linguistic forms both within one language and between languages.Those realizations have their own linguistic features because of different language typologies.?3?Differences in defining functions of local grammar components lie in two aspects.On one hand,components vary with regard to their defining power.For example,the specification is of higher frequency because of its more powerful.Therefore,it is not appropriate to evaluate the quality of definitions based on the number of components.On the other hand,grammar components lay varied stress on different semantic features of the words being defined.For instance,specification stresses the function of referents of English linguistic shell nouns,while it stresses the origin of referents of Chinese linguistic shell nouns.Similarly,in definitions of psychological and modal shell nouns,English specification stresses the content of referents,but Chinese specification stresses the function.?4?Differences exist among local grammar patterns of definition text for different types of shell nouns.Although two local grammars share the same high-frequency patterns,generally speaking their distributional patterns are different.One obvious difference is that?operator+discriminator+superordinate?occurs less frequently in English definitions,but its counterpart?discriminator+hinge+head?is of high frequency in Chinese definitions.This demonstrates that some Chinese definitions are uninformative for learners to distinguish between synonyms.The reasons for the aforementioned differences mainly include:?1?Firstly,it was uncovered that due to the typological differences,component sequencing of two local grammars is different and their linguistic realizations have unique features.?2?The different distribution patterns of local grammar patterns in different shell nouns‘definitions are caused by different cognitive styles and perspectives when conceptualizing different abstract things.?3?Different component sequencing reflect different cognitive models?projected/dominant?and modes of thinking?curve/linear?of two peoples.The findings of this study expand the scope of research on the local function of dictionary definitions,and provide a new perspective for comparative study of learner‘s dictionaries.It is hoped that the findings can provide inspiration and implications for compiling definitions in LDCFL,especially for compiling definitions of abstract nouns.Thses findings can not only contribute to uncovering the correlations between definition conventions and cognitive styles,thinking modes,and ways of language expression at the micro level,but also serve as a supplement to the general language grammar. |
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