| “zai(在)+NP+de+VP+xia(下)” structure, as a frequently used pattern in Chinese,has been paid a certain attention by several Chinese linguistic scholars especiallygrammarians. However, their explorations are just in the approaches of semanticanalysis.This thesis, on the basis of a thorough review of the literature related to thisstructure, aims at the shortcomings left by the former linguists and attempts to studythe structure “zai(在)+NP+de+VP+xia(下)” from the perspective: ConstructionGrammar approach. And the theory of Construction Grammar is mainly based onGoldberg’s studies.First, the author discusses the structure’s form, meaning and functionrespectively and makes a conclusion that “zai(在)+NP+de+VP+xia(下)” is aconstruction based on Goldberg’s definition for constructions which contains twofacets: a pair of form and meaning or form and functions as well as theunpredictability of its meaning. And the construction bears the referential meaning ofdenoting a known event which designates a certain condition, or background in asentence on its own.Second, the conflict between the verbal VP and the nominal “NP+de+VP” in theconstruction “zai(在)+NP+de+VP+xia(下)” is discussed. The author finds that VP’sverbal feature is in conflict with the construction’s referential meaning. To eliminatesuch conflict and come to complete fusion or integration between them, the VP mustbe coerced by the construction. As a result VP is endowed with the referential functionafter its entry in the construction “zai(在)+NP+de+VP+xia(下)”. And thus VP’sreferential feature decides its syllable, types and property. All these character is theresult of the constraint from the construction.Finally, the identical meaning between “zai(在)+NP+de+VP+xia(下)” and“zai(在)+NPVP+xia(下) is interpreted. The author proposes that according to the gestalt theory, it is the construction’s overall meaning that attributes them theconsistency of meaning. Certainly, from the perspective of economy of language, thisis also in accord with the least-effort principle in the use of language.To sum up, this thesis offers a new perspective for the study of“zai(在)+NP+de+VP+xia(下)” and expects to help us get a better understanding ofthis construction and, in condition, to provides references for other constructions’study. |
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