A Corpus-based Register-specific Study On English Subject It-extraposition Construction

Due to its complexity at the level of syntax,semantics and pragmatics,English subject it-extraposition structure has drawn the attention of researchers both at home and abroad.A few researchers conduct the studies within the framework of Construction Grammar,specifying its form-function correspondence.With the turn of empirical and quantitative approaches in linguistic research,a few scholars abroad investigate the semantic features of the two most frequently used constructions of subject it-extraposition structure,namely,it be ADJ that-construction,it be ADJ to V-construction,with the methodology of corpus-based Collostructional Analysis.Collostructional Analysis is a scientific empirical method that combines corpus linguistics and cognitive linguistics and is mainly used to calculate the degree of semantic association between one construction and the lexemes in a given slot.However,few scholars have noticed the effect of the register factor on the semantic interaction between the construction and the lexemes in a given slot.Given the aforementioned situations,the thesis conducts an empirical investigation on the two representative sub-constructions of English subject it-extraposition structure,that is,it be ADJ that-construction,it be ADJ to V-construction.To explore register-specific features of the two constructions,the thesis selects the academic,conversation,fiction and newspaper sub-corpus of British National Corpus(BNC)as the data sources,aiming to make a comprehensive and fine-grained analysis of the effect of register factor on the usage of the target constructions.The following three research questions are intended to be answered:1)What are the semantic characteristics of adjectives distinctively attracted by it be ADJ that-construction in four registers?2)What are the semantic characteristics of adjectives distinctively attracted by it be ADJ to V-construction in four registers?3)What are the similarities and differences of register-specific features between it be ADJ that-construction and it be ADJ to V-construction?With the framework of Construction Grammar combined with Register Theory,this thesis uses multiple distinctive collexeme analysis,a sub-method of Collostructional Analysis,with R software as an analytical tool to calculate the preference degrees between the lexemes that occur in the adjective slot of both constructions in four registers respectively.The semantic categories of distinctive adjectives significantly attracted to each construction in each register are explored based on Dixon’s classification approach and the specific meaning of the adjective within a particular context.Then the semantic features of two constructions in each register are summarized.Ultimately,a systematic comparison of these two synonymous constructions is made.The findings are listed as follows.First of all,it is illustrated that it be ADJ that-construction in different registers tends to express distinct meanings of evaluation.Specifically,the target construction in the academic register is strongly associated with the adjectives of the QUALIFICATION category,denoting the evaluation of a state of affairs or an event regarding its factivity and probability.The target construction in the conversation register is closely related to the adjectives of QUALIFICATION and VALUE categories,evaluating an event’s appropriateness and importance.The target construction in the fiction register is strongly associated with the adjectives of the QUALIFICATION category,mainly assessing an event’s factivity,probability and appropriateness.The target construction in the newspaper register is closely related to the adjectives of QUALIFICATION and VALUE categories,mainly evaluating an event’s correctness,importance and normality.Furthermore,it is demonstrated that it be ADJ to V-construction in different registers is inclined to express distinct meanings of evaluation.Specifically,the target construction in the academic register is strongly associated with the adjectives of VALUE and QUALIFICATION categories,denoting the evaluation of an action regarding its importance,necessity and rationality.The target construction in the conversation register is closely related to the adjectives of QUALIFICATION and HUMAN PROPENSITY categories,evaluating an action’s correctness and expressing positive emotional responses to an action,especially happiness.The target construction in the fiction register is strongly associated with the adjectives of the HUMAN PROPENSITY and VALUE categories,mainly making negative emotional responses to an action,especially sadness and pity,and assessing an action based on its benefits.The target construction in the newspaper register is closely related to the adjectives of HUMAN PROPENSITY and QUALIFICATION categories,principally expressing positive emotional responses to an action and evaluating the appropriateness of an action.Last but not least,both constructions are frequently used in the academic register,sporadically in newspaper registers,and rarely in conversation registers and fiction registers.Overall,the two constructions impose the least semantic restrictions on the distinctive adjectives co-occurring with them in the newspaper register but impose the most semantic restrictions on the distinctive adjectives co-occurring with them in academic registers.Specifically,the distinctive adjectives in academic registers fall into two semantic categories,i.e.,VALUE and QUALIFICATION,and are more neutral and objective.Whereas the distinctive adjectives in newspaper register mainly fall into three semantic categories,i.e.,VALUE,QUALIFICATION and HUMAN PROPENSITY,some adjectives even convey positive or derogatory emotions.These discrepancies can be attributed to the differences between the two registers in the dimensions of field and tenor.Besides,both constructions can significantly attract the distinctive adjectives of the VALUE,QUALIFICATION and HUMAN PROPENSITY semantic categories,whereas it be ADJ to V-construction is further more associated with the adjectives of DIFFICULTY category.By contrast,it be ADJ that-construction is additionally related to the adjectives of the subcategory of QUALIFICATION,i.e.,DEFINITE subcategory.It can be attributed to the semantic differences between the non-tensed to-clauses and tensed that-clauses.There are three implications of this study.First,the thesis makes a corpus-based register-specific analysis of two sub-constructions of English subject it-extraposition structure,with the framework of Construction Grammar combined with corpus linguistics and functional linguistics.The research findings are hopeful to shed light on the semantics and functions of the target constructions and the methodology employed in the thesis is expected to expand theoretical visions.Second,the results of this study are more objective and convincing based on the data abstracted from the corpus.This study further elucidates how the register factor affects the actual usage of constructions.Specifically,the three variables of register,i.e.,field,tenor and mode,impose some semantic restrictions on the adjectives occurring in constructions to express definite meanings.Last but not least,this study is also valuable for language learning,i.e.,making the language learners realize the use of vocabulary and grammatical forms is affected and restricted by registers to deepen the understanding of language.