Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1. Motivation of the Thesis
Classifier reduplication has always been an interesting issue which has triggered many other investigations within linguistic researches. It has been heatedly discussed perhaps because of its productivity. There are a lot of discussions on classifier reduplication and some indeed provide us valuable insights to syntactic structures and semantic features of reduplicative classifiers (宋玉柱, 1978, 1981; 邵敬敏, 1993; 郭继懋, 1999; Cheng & Sybesma, 1998; Yang, 2015; Zhang, 2013, 2014; etc.).
However, although great research achievements have been made in the classifier reduplication in Mandarin Chinese, there are still some issues left to be solved. For example, on the one hand, there is a small number of studies to make a united and overall discussion about the conditions and effects of yi on yi-classifier reduplication. Lots of arguments are made to pay attention to the features of CC and yi CC these two forms of reduplication as a whole, which means most of linguists are tend to just analyze the external environment with other constituents rather than the internal differences between two forms. On the other hand, the function of yi in classifier reduplication also is rarely analyzed. The previous studies assert yi in yi CC structure is a numeral, but we disagree with this opinion.
Thus, based on previous researches, the thesis will analyze the two forms of classifier reduplication, attempting to reveal the properties of classifier reduplication in Mandarin Chinese.
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1.2. Background of the Thesis
Reduplication is a common phenomenon in Sino-Tibetan languages and Austronesian languages. In Chinese, classifier reduplication originates from the years of Wei Jin and the Northern and Southern Dynasties and rapidly develops during the Tang and Five Dynasties. (Wang, 1958) From the Song and Yuan Dynasties to modern times, it has been becoming more mature and complete. The term “classifiers” is used as an umbrella label for a wide range of noun categorization device. It is divided into seven kinds (Aikhenvald, 2000). In this thesis, the term ‘classifier’ is applied almost to all the words combined with numerals. Li & Thompson (1981:104) once said, ‘To a speaker of English, one of the most striking features of the Mandarin noun phrase is the classifier.’ Generally speaking, classifiers have two basic usages: one is combined with numerals and noun to form a Numeral+Classifier+Noun structure. Numerals and classifiers usually coexist in this structure, and a classifier appears between the Num and N positions. (Li, 1999) The other is classifier reduplication. There are considerable papers help us to comprehend its grammatical meanings: ‘every’, ‘many’ and ‘one by one’. (Song Yuzhu, 1981; Hu Yushu, 1981; Li Yuming, 1996; Guo Jimao, 1999; Zhang Hengyue, 2012; Yang Kairong, 2015; ect.)
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Chapter 2 Literature Review
2.1 Classifier Reduplication
Classifier reduplication is a productive system in Mandarin Chinese. Many scholars believe that it includes CC, yi CC, and ‘yiC yiC’ structures, which can express the meaning of ‘every’, ‘many’ and ‘one by one’. In this thesis, only CC and yi CC are taken into consideration as classifier reduplication.
2.1.1 Types of Classifiers to Reduplication
With respect to the issue about what kinds of classifier can be reduplicative, Lu Jianming (1986) has claimed that classifiers that can be reduplicative are projected at about 12 percent of the whole classifier system. Some of the common classifiers are: ge, gen, tiao, zhang, ceng, ye, jian, xiang, pan etc. Moreover, scholars also focus on the restriction of sounds. Disyllabic classifiers cannot be reduplicative to express every in English, as well as borrowed classifier in spite of syllabic, such as mi (meter), ke (gram), miao (second). (Chao, 1968; Shi Yuzhi, 1996).
Hua Yuming (2003) comes up with several classifiers that cannot be reduplicative: monosyllable noun temporarily working as a classifier cannot be reduplicative; standard measure like yuan, jiao, fen (monetary units), chi, mi (length units), and indefinite classifier xie (some) cannot be reduplicative; all of multi-syllable classifiers cannot be reduplicative, such as gongjin (kilogram) and gongli (kilometer); classifiers with derogatory senses cannot be reduplicative like bang (gang), huo (gang) and lu (kind); classifiers expressing solemn and written colors also cannot be reduplicative like wei (an individual classifier to express respects to people) and zun (an individual classifier used for statues of God and Buddha).
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2.2 Yi
Numerals in Mandarin Chinese sometimes express the logical meaning, and sometimes express non-logical meaning. According to the grammatical functions and semantic relationship, scholars categorize numerals into true-value and non-true-value numerals. Yi, as the smallest numeral in Chinese, is called the beginning of numerals. It plays an indispensable role in daily life and frequently used in many situations. The expression of yi is much more complex than that of other numerals. The understanding of syntactical, semantic and pragmatic functions of yi facilitates the research of numeral system and other relevant issues about Mandarin Chinese.
The partition of true-value and non-true-value is an important tool in languages. Xing Fuyi (2003) has made deep researches on yi. He thinks that the true-value and non-true-value numerals have some differences, mainly in the semantics. The semantic differences are the results of distribute position under particular grammars. For true-value numeral, it usually expresses the logical quantity of numerals. All of true-value numerals can freely replace their positions, which would not influence their constituents in sentences. For example,
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Chapter 3 Comparison of the Forms of CC and Yi CC ............................ 15
3.1 Similarities .......................... 15
3.1.1 Unit-plurality ..................................16
3.1.2 The Restrictions of Classifier to Reduplication .................. 16
Chapter 4 Yi and Reduplicative Classifiers ................................. 28
4.1 Yi in the Yi CC Structure not as a Real Numeral ............................. 28
4.2. Yi CC Structure not Just as an Existential Quantifier .................... 29
Chapter 4 Yi and Reduplicative Classifiers
4.1 Yi in the Yi CC Structure not as a Real Numeral
From the previous studies of classifier reduplication, most of scholars believe that yi CC structure is combined with numeral yi based on the reduplicative form CC. While in this thesis, we hold that yi in the structure of yi CC isn’t a real numeral. There are two properties to prove this opinion. Different from other numerals, so we will use the RED-YI to refer the yi in classifier reduplication in the following sections.
On the one hand, the RED-YI is not paradigmatic relations with any other numerals. If yi is a numeral in the form of yi CC, it’s also acceptable when yi is replaced by, and in contrast to another numeral in this condition, as shown in (28) (Steindl 2010: 69). But these example already show that only yi can occur in this form except other numerals.
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Conclusion
Major Findings of the Current Study
This thesis begins with some facts and observations of classifier reduplication and yi-classifier reduplication. I have explained some issues on the classifier reduplication in Mandarin Chinese. Based on the previous studies on classifier reduplication in Mandarin Chinese, I put forward to two questions that are answered in chapter two to chapter four of the thesis:
1) What are the similarities and differences between CC and yi CC structures?
2) What is the role of yi in yi-classifier reduplication? Why are some classifiers that cannot be applied into CC structure suitable to the yi CC structure?
On the first question, we have compared the two forms of classifier reduplication: Yi CC and CC structure. For the similarities, categorized as classifier reduplication, both of them can express the unit-plurality and have several same restrictions for the selected classifiers. For the differences, we have analyzed them from the following aspects: First, yi CC structure allows the existence of exception, while CC structure cannot. Second, yi CC structure focuses more overall view, while CC structure pays more attention to each unit. Third, yi CC structure have static property, which cannot occur in some contexts with the dynamic feature, but CC structure can. It is those differences that make us surprised for the occurrence of the phenomena.
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