Image-Schema-Based Analysis Of Verb-source Adverb Haí

Modern Chinese adverb haí is a common word with complex meanings and complicated usages.Predecessors show different opinions on interpretations of adverb haí from different perspectives.Major researches on haí include studies of semantic descriptions and pragmatic functions.In terms of semantic description,scholars classify and describe the meanings of haí,and generally consider “continuation” as its basic meaning.Some specially study certain semantic features of haí and pointed out that haípossesses the functions of representing increment and expressing subjective emotions.Previous researches are mainly synchronic studies of semantic features and functions of haí.However,there are a few works focusing on haí’s word source and semantic evolution.In order to enrich the researches,this thesis,combining semantic evolution and prototype theory,attempts to establish the image schema of haí and carry out semantic study on haí to explore the semantic relations of haí from the perspective of verb-source adverb.By analyzing the transformation of the image schema of haí,classifying meanings of haí,studying the interrelations among all meanings and establishing haí’s semantic-net,we find that: haí possesses the meanings of repetition,continuation,addition,counter-expectation and scalar reading;among the five meanings,repetitive reading is the prototype sense and other meanings are formed around it by transformation of image schema;the semantic evolution of haí is a process of grammaticalization with continuously increasing of subjectivity;the schematic structure of haí is preserved across the semantic evolution and influences the formation of other meanings.The last two findings coincide with the semantic change proposals of Traugott and Sweetser respectively.This study enriches the researches on semantic evolution of haí,and provides a new perspective for the study of adverbs.