On The Non-Interrogative Usage Of Interrogative Pronouns And The Related Constructions

This dissertation takes the non-interrogative usage of the interrogative pronouns and the related constructions as research objects.Based on a great number of previous research results,we will give an elaborate description and analysis of the non-interrogative usage of the interrogative pronouns and classify its related constructions.We attempt to make cognitive explanations to the non-interrogative usage of interrogative pronouns and related constructions by using some linguistic theories such as cognitive grammar theory,construction grammar theory,speech behavior theory,and grammaticalization,etc..The whole dissertation consists of nine chapters.Chapter One is the introduction,mainly explaining the research object,the topic significance,the research background,the research theories,methods and perspectives,the corpus sources and the textual explanation.Chapter Two attempts to reveal the semantic features,syntactic and pragmatic functions of the typical representative of the interrogative pronouns“Shenme”,“Zenyang”,“Nali”and“Shui”through giving a comprehensive description and analysis of their non-interrogative usages.The comprehensive descriptions of the language facts are the premise to get a rational and valid grammatical interpretation.The descriptions and analysises of the semantic features,syntactic and pragmatic functions of the non-interrogative usages of the interrogative pronouns will not only contribute to the study of its own grammaticalizations but also to the study of related constructions.Chapter Three to Chapter Six,considering the overall meanings of constructions,classifies the related constructions of the non-interrogative usages of interrogative pronouns into negative constructions,anti-expected constructions,progressive constructions and other stable constructions for four categories.Each type of constructions is studied separately.Chapter Three mainly studies three negative constructions“（Mei）you-Shenme-Dabuliao-De”,“Shenme-X-bu-X”,“Nali-shi-X,Fenming/Mingming/Jianzhi/Genben/Yanran/Qiaqia-shi-Y”.These three constructions are very distinctive,forming acertain frame format,and therefore have more formal characteristics.Besides,thischapter also makes a brief description of the negative constructions of“Shenme+NP”,“X-Shenme-Y”,“X-Shenme-X”,“X+components quoted”,“X-Shenme”,etc.Chapter Four analyses the anti-expected constructions of the non-interrogative usage of the interrogative pronouns like“Zenmen”,“Na-Zhidao/Xiang/Liao”,“Shui-Zhi（dao）/Xiang/Liao”.This kind of constructions has the function of textual cohesion in the text,and has developed into a discourse marker.Chapter Five concentrates on constructions of the constrictive complex sentence of the non-interrogative usages of the interrogative pronoun.For Constructions like“V₁-Duoshao-V₂”,“V₁-Shenme-V₂”,and“Zenme-X-Zenme-Y”,the two interrogative pronouns are interrelated,co-occurring on linguistic linear sequence,logically dependent on each other.The integral meaning of the constructions emphasizes the logical semantic relationship between the front and back items after the integration,weakening the action meaning of the verb in the construction.Chapter Six discusses two constructions of“Na-Shenme”and“Shui-Rang/Jiao”.The construction“Na-Shenme”has a reference function and thus could be used as a discourse marker in communication to realize coherence in discourse.Constructions like“Shui-Rang/Jiao”could be divided into three types A,B,and C.Constructions in the form of B and C represent rhetorical questions.Constructions in the form of B has a stronger tone of reproach while“Shui”neither exits in the real world nor in the virtual world.Due to the non-typicality of the guest verbs,the causative verbs“Rang/Jiao”lose their maneuverability,thus realizing the non-manipulation.Constructions in the form of C“Shui-Rang/Jiao”is an attribution sentence,giving an explanation for the occurrence or result of the event.Chapter Seven investigates the process of the synchronic grammaticalization of interrogative pronouns and explores the generative mechanism of the non-interrogative usages of interrogative pronouns from the perspective of altogether time plane.We mainly analyzes the inducement of the formation of non-interrogative usages from pragmatical factors and cognitive motivations.The grammaticalization process of interrogative pronouns from interrogative usage to non-interrogative usage is a process of unidirectional evolution,as well as a subjective process of gradual decrease of objective meaning and gradual increase of subjective meaning.Chapter Eight focuses on the discourse function of non-interrogative usages of interrogative pronouns and that of the related constructions,mainly including their textual function,discourse marker function,the conventionalization and the involved stance expressions in the specific context.In terms of textual function,the non-interrogative usages of many interrogative pronouns and its related constructions play a role in textual cohesion and discourse propulsion.Chapter Nine is the conclusion,which mainly summarizes the main points of the dissertation,the innovations and deficiencies.