Conceptualization of containment in Chinese
A corpus-based study of the Chinese space particles lǐ, nèi, and zhōng
This study investigates the semantic variations of three near-synonymous space particle constructions of
containment in Chinese: [zài NP lǐ/nèi/zhōng]. While previous work has mostly applied
qualitative analyses of the semantic differences between these particles, this study presents a corpus-based analysis examining
the relationship between space particles and their co-occurring landmarks in the locative construction. Two quantitative analyses
were conducted: a multiple distinctive collexeme analysis and a post-hoc semantic analysis. Our results suggest the following.
First, lǐ is a more unmarked particle in encoding containment, co-occurring with both canonical landmarks and a
wider range of entities. Second, nèi shows a strong preference for landmarks denoting temporal concepts; this
metaphorical use often implies a preplanned objective in the proposition, with the landmark as an intended deadline. Finally,
zhōng shows a strong connection to landmarks denoting high-dynamicity events. This extended use often comes
with a marked aspectual reading of the landmark.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Literature review
- 2.1A usage-based constructionist approach to grammar
- 2.2Containment particles in Chinese
- 3.Methodology
- 3.1Data analysis
- 3.2Multiple distinctive collexeme analysis
- 3.3Semantic analysis
- 4.Results
- 4.1Multiple distinctive collexeme analysis
- 4.1.1[zài NP nèi]
- 4.1.2[zài NP zhōng]
- 4.1.3[zài NP lǐ]
- 4.2Semantic analyses
- 4.2.1
concreteness
- 4.2.2
time-relatedness
- 4.2.3
dynamicity
- 5.Conceptualizing containment
- 5.1Containment with concrete entities
- 5.2Containment with temporal entities
- 5.3Containment with dynamic entities
- 6.Conclusion
- Acknowledgements
- Notes
- List of abbreviations for inter-linear glossing
-
References
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