The Vocabulary Processing Characteristics Of Chinese Quantitative Expression Structure

When Chinese expresses the concept of quantity,the numeral must be combined with the classifier to form a numeral classifier phrase.From the mathematical point of view,Her(2012)proposed that there is a multiplicative function relationship between numerals and classifiers.Some support was obtained at the behavioral and cognitive neurological levels(Chen,Her,&Yen,2018;Her,Chen,&Yen,2018).The present study manipulated the numeral size(small vs large)and classifier types(sortal classifier mass classifier),and used Eyelink 1000 plus eye tracker to record the eye movement of participants when reading sentences.So that the present study could test the hypothesis of multiplicative function relationship by analyzing the lexical processing characteristics of Chinese quantitative expression structure(Num?CL?Num+CL).40 college students participated in experiment 1,and the experimental design was 2x2 within-subjects design.The results showed that compared with sortal classifiers,when followed by mass classifiers,small number words spent more time in single fixation duration and first fixation duration.The total reading time of mass classifiers was longer than that of sortal classifiers.In addition,under the condition of small number words(or sortal classifiers),classifiers were easier to be skipped.The total reading time of phrases containing mass classifiers was longer than that of phrases containing sortal classifiers.And compared with large number words,phrases containing small number words were easier to be skipped.40 college students participated in experiment 2.The experiment design was same as experiment 1,but the participants read in the semantic size comparison task.The results showed that it took longer to read the numeral when it's followed by mass classifiers than when it's followed by sortal classifiers.When the numeral means small,the single fixation duration of mass classifiers was longer than those of sortal classifiers.In addition,compared with large number words,classifiers were easier to be skipped when the small number word before.The total reading time of phrases containing mass classifiers was longer than that of phrases containing sortal classifiers.However,the total reading time of phrases containing small number words was longer than that of phrases containing large number words.Compared with large number words,phrases containing small number words were easier to be skipped.In summary,the lexical processing characteristics of numeral classifier phrases were independently influenced by numerals and classifiers.Therefore,there is no multiplication function relationship between numerals and classifiers.