Research On Decategorization Of Classifier “Jian” Based On Corpus

Previous classifier research mainly focused on static descriptions,while the decategorization theory centers on the unconventional phenomena of language and views them from a dynamic perspective.Therefore,this article mainly analyzes the semantic changes and internal mechanism of the classifier "jian"(件)from the perspective of decategorization theory,and explores its dynamic development.To answer these questions,relevant data of "jian" was collected from the ancient Chinese and modern Chinese corpus of Beijing Language Research Center.Quantitive and qualitative methods were adopted to analyze the prototype meaning,semantic changes as well as its internal mechanism.After sorting out and analyzing the data,we drew the following conclusions:First,by discussing the prototype meaning from the diachronic and synchronic levels,it is found that the prototype meaning of classifier "jian" in ancient Chinese was to measure the specific thing of Yangwei,but afterwards it was used to measure things and clothes.Secondly,the collected corpus was analyzed from three aspects,namely semantic transfer,semantic abstraction generalization,and semantic loss.In terms of semantic transfer,classifier "jian" lost its typical representations to refer to the quantity of things and to measure things and clothes.At the same time,the things referred to by"jian" can be measured by "jian",and the characteristics of these things can be expanded by metonymy "perspective" to refer other things and gain new meaning.In the stage of semantic abstraction and generalization,with the loss of its typical features,classifier""jian"generally refers to the "approximate number","in sequence","each part of the whole" etc.,rather than measurement.At the level of semantic loss,it is found that the semantic loss of the classifier "jian" is a significant manifestation of its continuous deepening of decategorization.It actually refers to the damage or disappearance of its"quantity element",rather than the amount of quantity.The most significant thing in this process is the production of noun classifier compounds,which is a manifestation of a high degree of decategorization.Finally,this study found that conceptual metaphor and conceptual metonymy are the internal mechanisms that promote semantics transfer of the classifier "jian".When used as a classifier,“jian”expresses the meaning of quantity.With the conceptual metonymy mechanism,classifier "jian" can refer to those things which can be measured by "jian".At the same time,in the process of semantic abstraction,generalization and loss of the classifier "jian",it is also through a series of metonymy that it gains new meaning and enters a new category.Conceptual metaphor plays an irreplaceable role in the ability of the classifier "jian" to be used to measure abstract concepts.More importantly,conceptual metonymy and conceptual metonymy mechanisms do not work independently.On the basis of metonymy and finally through metaphors,the usage of "jian" to measure abstract concepts is finally realized.