"So", "so", "so" Multi-angle Comparative Analysis

Conjunctions are an indispensable part of function words in modem Chinese. In recent years, there are increasing numbers of studies on conjunctions so, therefore, and thus, but their emphases are put on the generation and development of these three conjunctions, or on the comparison of these conjunctions with other ones. This paper analyzes the semantic relations, syntactic structures, pragmatic functions, and textual functions of the conjunctions so, therefore, and thus. This paper consists of the following five chapters:Chapter1describes the meaning of this paper and the current status and results of this study. Moreover, the methodology and linguistic data source mentioned in this study is introduced.Chapter2analyzes these three conjunctions from the perspective of semantic relations. The conjunctions so, therefore, and thus are common in the accomplished and unaccomplished states but different in usage tendency. In terms of causality and coherence, they have not only the overlapped meaning but also have their respective meaning. The conjunction therefore has the anaphora function, while so and thus can express only the causal relationship. So, therefore, and thus are used for providing a result based on the actual fact, but their emphases on semantics are different.Chapter3analyzes the conjunctions from the perspective of syntactic structures. The conjunctions so, therefore, and thus can be used for combining clauses. The clause following the conjunction so can be a rhetorical question or imperative sentence, while the clause following the conjunction therefore or thus has no such usage.Chapter4compares the pragmatic functions of the conjunctions. In this chapter, the typical functions of so, therefore, and thus are described, and the differences among the conjunctions in style, subjectivity, and objectivity are analyzed. Through the analysis, the distinctive function of the conjunction so can be found, that is, the discourse marking function, which includes initiating a turn and continuing a turn.Chapter5describes the textual functions of the conjunctions. So and therefore can not only combine clauses but also can be used between two sentences or paragraphs to form a sentence group or a discourse. However, thus can be only used for combining clauses or followed by a phrase. Compared with thus, so and therefore have a larger application scope. At the end of this chapter, examples are used to list the associated words that can be used together with so, therefore, and thus and to illustrate their impacts on semantic and discourse expression. Chapter6analyses the factors which could influence the learning of conjunction based on the analysis in the last five chapters and the methods of teaching Chinese as a foreign language. It also discusses the way of teaching conjunctions so, therefore, and thus in Chinese as a foreign language.Chapter7summarizes the main points of the paper and point out the disadvantages in this paper.