The Restriction And Influence Of Shi And Related Structures On The Structure Of Interrogative Sentences

Shi(是)is frequently used in Chinese,having vague meaning and flexible usage.Shi(是)used in interrogative sentences,can have important impact on the semantic features,pragmatic effects and legitimacy of interrogative sentence itself.This paper discusses three cases in which the word Shi(是)and its related structures used in wh-questions,yes-no questions,and A-not-A questions respectively.Through these studies,we can explore the interactive relationship between the focus category,modal category,negative category,mood category and interrogative category.The main contents are:Firstly,in wh-questions,we re-explore the conditions and causes of the intervention of the focus marker Shi(是)in the legitimacy of the sentense.When the focus marker Shi(是)appears before the wh-word,the conditions for initiating"intervention effect" are as follows:Ⅰ.Shi marks a focus phrase placed before the wh-words;Ⅱ.Shi marks the wh-word acts as an objective argument,or Zenm(怎么)expressing the meaning of "why".The reason of I is that the implicit assertion meaning of Shi makes the conflict between affirmation and interrogative mood,and the function of giving information and seeking information;The reason of II is that the wh-word acting as accusative arguments should not be the contrastive focus in the non-contrast context,and Zenme(怎么),which expressing the meaning of "why"does not have the real identity of wh-word,and its anti-expectation meaning is also excluded from the "known" or "factual" meaning of Shi(是).Secondly,in the yes-no questions,we explore the meaning of speculation of Shi(是)VP ma(吗)including its emergence mechanism and pragmatic effect.The emergence of the meaning of speculation is based on the premise that Shi(是)only marks the whole sentence and can not be stressed,it also has gone through the process of pragmatic deduction.In conversation,it can behave as true or untrue interrogative sentence.The former seeks the cause of the event or confirm speaker’s speculation,while the latter expresses emphasis or doubt.Bushi(不是)VP ma(吗)can also express the meaning of speculation,but it has experienced the conflict between old and new information,asking the reasons of unexpected events.Thirdly,in the A-not-A questions,we explore the Shi bu Shi(是不是)as a modal adverb and its influence on the interpretation of interrogative intention.Firstly,we divide Shi bu Shi(是不是)into predicative phrase Shi bu Shi1(是不是1),adverbial component Shi bu Shi2(是不是2)and independent clause Shi bu Shi3(是不是3).Secondly,aiming at the Shi bu Shi2(是不是2)question,which is the most commonly used in expression and most controversial in previous studies,we reflect on the previous lack of rationality for its functional classification,and re-divide it into speculation and rhetorical question;Finally,we compare the Shi bu Shi(是不是question and Shi(是)VP ma(吗)question which have the similar function,and concluded that Shi bu Shi2(是不是 2)can.make the interrogative intention of interrogative sentences more polite and implicit.