Study Of Rhetorical Questions In Xingshi Yinyuan Zhuan

Defined as any question asked for a purpose other than to obtain the information the question asks, the rhetorical question is a figure of speech in the form of a question posed for its persuasive effect without the expectation of a reply. It is used to perform specific pragmatic functions. With rhetorical questions in Xingshi Yinyuan Zhuan as the research object, this thesis is to conduct a detailed analysis at three levels of rhetorical questions. This thesis is divided into six parts.As the first part, Introduction starts with a brief account of Xingshi Yinyuan Zhuan, including its author, background information, main content, material values, and present research situation about this book. The objectives, significance and methodology of this research are also explained.Section I deals with the basic meaning of rhetorical questions, which summarizes the academic achievements on rhetorical questions, such as syntactic structures, semantic features and pragmatic connotations.Section II analyses rhetorical questions in Xingshi Yinyuan Zhuan from the perspective of syntactic structure. According to some theories, rhetorical questions in Xingshi Yinyuan Zhuan are classified into four types, namely, yes-or-no questions, positive-negative questions, alternative questions and specific questions. Efforts are made in differentiating the specific syntactic features of each category. Besides, comparison between rhetorical questions in Xingshi Yinyuan Zhuan and that in Jinpingmei Cihua is also made. What is more, expressions of rhetorical tone and particles used in rhetorical questions in Xingshi Yinyuan Zhuan are briefly explored.Section III investigates rhetorical questions from the point of view of the relationship between rhetorical questions and semantic presuppositions. Priority is given to several types of semantic presupposition adopted in rhetorical questions in Xingshi Yinyuan Zhuan.Section IV discusses the pragmatic connotations of rhetorical questions in Xingshi Yinyuan Zhuan. This thesis concludes that rhetorical questions in Xingshi Yinyuan Zhuan are fulfilling 8 pragmatic functions, namely, complaining and rebuking, defending and contradicting, urging and commanding, denouncing and satirizing, persuading and dissuading, rejecting and declining, puzzling and confusing, reminding and hinting.The Conclusion part summarizes the major findings in this thesis. After the thorough investigation into rhetorical questions in Xingshi Yinyuan Zhuan, the thesis concludes that rhetorical questions in Xingshi Yinyuan Zhuan play a transitional role in the history of rhetorical questions in the Chinese language.