|
Abstract Abstract： This research takes a cross-linguistic typological perspective and analyzes a relatively large quantity of data drawn from two corpora to study the typological features of English and Chinese ditransitive construction, such as animacy, reference, direction of construction meaning and word order. The results reveal that a hierarchical sequence is found in these four dimensions. As to agent, recipient and source, there is a tendency to be “animate” (animate> inanimate, the hierarchy can be further sequenced, i.e. man> lifeless thing> animal). As to reference, the general tendency is to be “definite” (definite> indefinite), while the patient tends to be “indefinite” (definite > indefinite) and the direction tends to be right [Unidirectional (Right>Left)> Bidirectional]. In terms of word order, the sequence formed is NP1 V NP2 NP3 (NP1 V NP2 NP3> NP1 V NP3 NP2). A further analysis indicates that the change of cognitive perspective leads to the violation of animacy hierarchy. The principle of information transmission determines the sequence of the reference
hierarchy, and the cognitive processing influences the direction of construction meaning. And finally, word order is affected by iconicity principle. The study not only provides some further evidences of typological features such as animacy, reference and word order, shared by English and Chinese language, but also reveals the dimensional uniqueness of ditransitive construction.
|
|
|
|
|
|
