英语边缘介词的语言学分析

摘要

本文以英语边缘介词为研究对象，对其语义特征与句法功能进行了综合分析，为其形成原因、机制以及动机做了合理解释。 本文认为英语边缘介词与其他词类关系密切，是相关动词或形容词语法化的结果，其变化过程受认知因素影响。大多数英语边缘介词是分词介词，其发展过程如下：动词分词常引导分句，如无与之相呼应的主语时，就成为悬垂分词，后经重新分析，获得介词词类地位。其他少数与动词或形容词同形的边缘介词经过重新分析，也兼有了介词词性。 英语边缘介词的形成过程体现了语法化的某些特征。重新分析和类推机制在这一变化过程中起了重要作用。本文同时从认知角度对这一过程进行阐释，以深入揭示英语边缘介词的形成原因和动机：时态标记-ing和-ed的非时间性使动词分词可能变成同样具有非时间性的介词，而语义相宜性及其在句中次要位置的频率最终决定某些词能够语法化为边缘介词。 文章结合多种分析方法对英语边缘介词做了详尽描述与有力解释，弥补了国内对这一特殊词类的研究不足。本文对边缘介词的来源，发展变化过程以及变化背后的机制与动机进行深入阐释，有助于二语习得者全面掌握这类词的性质与功能，且有助于更深刻地理解人类语言发展变化的机制与动因。 文章分为五个部分。首先总结归纳前人在这方面的研究成果，说明本文的理论基础。然后对英语边缘介词进行全面描述，将它与英语内部不同词类进行对比研究，讨论了其语义、句法和语用特征。其次进一步从跨语言角度将它与汉语对应词进行对比研究，深刻阐述了其功能与特征。本文主要目的在于合理解释英语边缘介词的形成与发展，因此最后两章将从语法化和认知两方面对其形成原因、机制及动机进行详尽调查。

目录

文摘

英文文摘

声明

Introduction

Chapter One Literature Review and Theoretical Foundation

1.1. Literature Review

1.1.1 Studies of Typical Preposition

1.1.2 Studies of Marginal Preposition

1.2 Theoretical Foundation

1.2.1 Grammaticalization

1.2.2 Atemporal Relation of Preposition in Cognitive Grammar

1.3 Summary

Chapter Two A General Review of the English Marginal Prepositions

2.1Introduction

2.2 Classification of the English Marginal Prepositions

2.2.1 Classification According to Lexical Form

2.2.2. Classification According to Word's Meaning

2.3. Syntactic Characteristics Represented in Comparison with Other Word Classes

2.3.1 Marginal Preposition and Typical Preposition

2.3.2. Involved Relation between Preposition and Conjunction

2.3.3 Differences between Marginal Preposition and Participle

2.4 Pragmatic Features of Marginal Preposition

2.5 Summary

Chapter Three Comparison between the English Marginal Prepositions and Chinese Counterparts

3.1 The Chinese Counterparts of the English Marginal Prepositions

3.1.1 The Corresponding Chinese Prepositions Denoting TIME

3.1.2 The Corresponding Chinese Prepositions Denoting RESPECT or Introducing Topic

3.1.3 The Corresponding Chinese Prepositions Denoting EXCLUSION or INCLUSION

3.1.4 The Corresponding Chinese Prepositions Denoting CAUSE or BASIS of an Action

3.1.5 The Corresponding Chinese Prepositions Denoting ASSUMPTION

3.1.6 The Corresponding Chinese Prepositions Denoting ADDITION or ACCOMPANIMENT

3.2 Comparison between the English Marginal Prepositions and Chinese counterparts

3.2.1 Similarities between the Two Categories

3.2.2 Distinctions between the Two Categories

3.3 Summary

Chapter Four Evolution of Marginal Preposition from Perspective of Grammaticalization

4.1 Related Properties of Grammaticalization

4.1.1 Unidirectionality

4.1.2 Layering

4.1.3 Gradualness of Grammaticalization and Further Grammaticalization

4.2 Mechanisms of Grammaticalization

4.2.1 Reanalysis

4.2.2 Analogy

4.3 Summary

Chapter Five A Cognitive Explanation of the Development of the English Marginal Prepositions

5.1 The Power of Metaphor

5.2 Temporal Profile versus Atemporal Relation

5.3 Some Cognitive Constraints on Grammaticalization

5.4 Summary

Conclusion

Bibliography

Appendix

Acknowledgements