Asymmetry and Label Theory

Author: Shen Jiayuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Abstract This book applies "Markedness Theory" to grammatical research, providing a unified description and explanation of various symmetrical and asymmetrical phenomena in Chinese grammar. Building upon traditional markedness theory, the new markedness theory emphasizes the "relativity" and "relatedness" of markedness patterns. This markedness pattern holds universal significance and has a foundation in pragmatic, cognitive, and physiological aspects. This indicates that the structure of language is closely related to its function, and explanations for grammatical phenomena should be sought beyond the linguistic structure.
Chapter 1 introduces the theoretical premises and research methods of the book, focusing on the functionalist view of language.
Chapter 2 "Markedness Theory" explains what the "relational and related markedness pattern" is, the criteria for distinguishing marked and unmarked items, and the reasons behind the formation of markedness patterns.
Chapters 3 to 7 are all related to the symmetry and asymmetry of affirmation and negation.
Chapter 3 first clarifies the marked nature of negative sentences relative to affirmative sentences.
Chapter 4 further discusses the opposition between marked and unmarked within the category of negation and explains this opposition from a pragmatic perspective, such as the "Cooperative Principle."
Chapter 5 applies the conclusions drawn from the first two chapters to analyze the similarities and differences between the words "almost" and "almost not" in terms of grammar and usage, while also demonstrating the strong explanatory power of pragmatic principles and markedness patterns.
Chapter 6 explains the reasons behind the formation of "polarity words" (words that can only be used in affirmative or negative sentences) in relation to pragmatic principles and cognitive patterns.
Chapter 7 also explains from both pragmatic and cognitive perspectives why the opposition between affirmation and negation disappears under certain conditions, and uses language communication strategies to explain asymmetrical phenomena related to double negation.
Chapter 8 describes the markedness pattern of antonyms, particularly the relationships between marked and unmarked items of various antonyms, and provides a final explanation for these relationships based on conventional psychological tendencies.
Chapter 9 "Asymmetry of Subject and Object" argues that the essence of subject-object asymmetry is the asymmetry between "agent" and "patient," as well as the asymmetry between "topic" and "focus," and uses the "typical theory" of categories to address the subject issue in Chinese.
Chapters 10 and 11 discuss the symmetry and asymmetry between word classes and syntactic components from the perspective of markedness theory.
Chapter 10 describes the relational markedness patterns of three types of lexical items (nouns, verbs, adjectives) and syntactic components based on the "typical theory" of word classes and the continuum.
Chapter 11 establishes a continuum within adjectives and a relational markedness pattern among adjectives, syntactic components, and nouns.
Chapter 12 discusses the symmetry and asymmetry between form and meaning using "meta-markedness patterns," explaining that language evolution is one reason for the asymmetry between form and meaning. This chapter concludes with the book's epilogue.
The chapters are interconnected, mutually referenced, and consistently guided by markedness theory. The book draws on theories and research findings from recent foreign studies in linguistic typology, pragmatics, discourse linguistics, and cognitive linguistics, exploring a research approach to Chinese grammar that combines description and explanation.
The main ideas of the book include the following aspects:
- Language structure is largely rational and not "arbitrary";
- Grammatical categories, like most human categories, are non-discrete "typical categories";
- Grammatical research cannot exclude meaning, and semantic analysis should combine objective and subjective perspectives;
- Grammatical rules are the result of pragmatic solidification and the embodiment of cognitive patterns in language;
- Language evolution and language asymmetry are mutually causal;
- Explaining grammatical phenomena can break existing boundaries, such as the boundaries between word classes, vocabulary and grammar, and grammar, semantics, and pragmatics.