An Exploration Of English And Chinese Affixoids

Affixoids, which are pervasive both in modern English and Chinese, are a continuum of word-building elements from content words to prototypical affixes. From the perspective of the grammaticalization theory, along with the lexicalization one, this thesis attempts to probe into the semantic and word-building features of English and Chinese affixoids and their forming mechanisms as well. Meanwhile, it also seeks to look into the relationship between grammaticalization and lexicalization in terms of linguistic changes with reference to the study of the evolution process of affixoids. What have been observed in this thesis can enrich the theory of universal grammaticalization.This thesis consists of seven chapters. Chapter One is a general introduction to the research background, significance, methodology and the organization of the thesis. Meanwhile, our working hypothesis is put forward in this chapter. The previous studies of English and Chinese affixoids are reviewed in Chapter Two, and in Chapter Three the relevant theories of grammaticalization and lexicalization as well as their relationship are introduced and discussed, and then our point of view is briefly put forth. Chapter Four is concerned with a comprehensive analysis of the semantic and word-building features of affixoids both in English and Chinese, which is based on the theory of grammaticalization. Chapter Five attaches emphasis on the motivations and mechanisms of affixoids in both languages, including the reason behind for the different pathways leading to the emergence of English affixoids and Chinese ones from the viewpoint of language typology. Chapter Six is the synthetic analysis of the relationship between lexicalization and grammaticalization in terms of the relationship between form and meaning. Finally, in Chapter Seven a summary and some concluding remarks are offered, ending with suggestions for further research directions.Based on the above discussion and analysis, the thesis comes to the following conclusions. Firstly, it is hypothesized that English and Chinese affixoids are the marginal members within the category of derivational affixes in the light of the prototype theory. They are a continuum of variants from content words to prototypical affixes and their forming process is the process of grammaticalization. Secondly, it is concluded that English and Chinese affixoids exhibit different degrees of semantic weakening and bleaching, and these new meanings are usually adhesive to stems or roots. In addition, in English, semantic bleaching sometimes results in the derivation of new forms detached from affixoids and become prototypical affixes. However, Chinese affixoids tend to develop into word-internal elements. It is also found that both English and Chinese affixoids possess the word-building features of productivity and fixed-position. Thirdly, it is assumed that metaphorization, metonymization, lexicalization and analogical extension are the important mechanisms for the formation of affixoids and they interactively promote the process of affixization. Metaphorization and metonymization transfer the meanings of content words which gradually evolve into affixoids from concrete to abstract to different degrees. Promoted by analogical leveling and reanalysis respectively, the lexicalization of unidirectional collocative phrases and hierarchical adjacent constructions ensures some elements to be fixed in the positions of affixes, and thus these elements ultimately become the sources of affixization. Furthermore, analogical extension operating along the"paradigmatic"axis advances the use frequency of the acquired new meanings of these elements or the new structures on the basis of metaphorization, metonymization and lexicalization. Generally speaking, the overwhelming majority of English affixoids undergo the second forming pathway, but Chinese affixoids do not go in that way. The reason that may account for the phenomenon is that English and Chinese belong to the different types of languages. English is an inflectional language possessing rich variations in forms and derivatives, which are quite salient in English native speakers'cognition. It is relatively possible that a variety of derivative-like words show up as a result of lexicalization based on analogical leveling or reanalysis. Nevertheless, Chinese, which is commonly viewed as an isolating language, is poor in derivatives, and thus Chinese affixoids are less likely to develop through this route. Finally, it is demonstrated that meaning and form are interactively correlated and influenced during the evolution process of affixoids both in English and Chinese, and they together prompt the lexicalization of the holistic construction and the grammaticalization of one unit in it, which corresponds with the research of Wang Canlong (2008). The analysis of the relationship between meaning and form also provides a hint to the relationship between grammaticalization and lexicalization. That is, grammaticalization often involves lexicalization, and vice versa. They are the complementary and interdependent processes which should be elaborated on within the framework of language change.