A Cognitive Comparative Study On N+N Compounds In English And Chinese From The Perspective Of Conceptual Blending Theory

Language roots in people’s interactive experiences and cognitive processes in real life.The application of compounds embodies the intense generality in human thoughts,the cognitive economy in ways of cognition and the flexibility,creativity in the usages of language.The requirement of cognitive economy calls for the most highly productive word formation that takes its form of compound nouns.In recent years,scholars at home and abroad have done a lot of researches on N+N compounds in English and Chinese.The reasons for these studies lie in the fact that,firstly,N+N compound is the most effective tool for compressing complex meanings;Secondly,it can reflect the complicated processes of human cognition and meaning construction;Finally,N+N compound word formation is not limited to individual language,but it is a universal phenomenon in the process of language development which is subject to the basic law of the evolution in each individual language.Fauconnier’s conceptual blending theory provides a set of intuitive mechanisms for cognitive researches of N+N compounds in English and Chinese,which establishes a scientific method for cognitive comparative study.Syntactically,N+N compound plays the role of Noun.However,its semantic relations cannot be inferred from N+N constructions themselves.All their mysteries can be disclosed with the employment of theories of metaphor,metonymy and conceptual blending.The initiation of conceptual blending theory finds its brand-new route for the exploration of sources in conceptual formation,which bears the the most valuable references for explicating the semantic structures of N+N compounds.The highlights of the theory are the five types of models for conceptual blending networks which possess fairly explanatory powers.On the basis of the CBT,the thesis manages to perform some improvements for the mapping spaces.The modification of the models turns out to be with more explanatory power.The newly established network is perfected with the novel elements of selective spaces,cognitive contexts space and the output space.The revised model integrates all these elements which form the core part of the thesis.And five types of N+N compounds in English and Chinese are illustrated in corresponding five types of networks in detail to validatethe feasibility and explanatory power of the new network models.Being a innovation and a potential reference for further relevant study,the amendment of the network model picks up a new perspective for N+N compounds research,although the present study needs further improvments and verification.The study manifests that the N+N compounds in Chinese and English share the common cognitive mechanisms in semantic construction.At last,the paper puts great effort in digging out the similarities and differences between English and Chinese N+N compounds.The paper locates two similarities in English and Chinese N+N compounds:(1).N+N compounds in both English and Chinese follows the principle of economy.(2).The grammaticalization processes take place in both English and Chinese N+N compounds.The differences between N+N compound in English and Chinese are unfolding as follows:(1).Differences of word order.The position of N1 and N2 in English compound is relatively fixed which cannot be changed at liberty.While the position of N1 and N2 in Chinese compound is much more flexible,which may cause the changing of meaning or not.(2).Differences in lexicalization between English and Chinese N+N compound,can be summarized from two aspects: one is the different degrees of lexicalization,and the other is the different approaches of conceptualization in English and Chinese,which affect the results of lexicalization.Above all,this thesis reveals the semantic motivations behind the N+N compounds through the different construals,embodiment and culture.The comparative analysis of N+N compound in English and Chinese is not only helpful for English learners to grasp the meaning of the compound efficiently and accurately,but also produces some implications for teaching Chinese as a second language.