Read more
Motion is one of the most basic human experiences, and it provides an important window for looking into human cognition and language. Within the paradigm of cognitive semantics, this book presents a comprehensive study of the conceptualization and linguistic representation of motion in Mandarin Chinese. It focuses on the correlation between the ways in which Mandarin speakers conceptualize motion events and the ways in which they render them and carefully considers the typological properties. In addition to deepening our understanding of motion cognition and expressions, this study also affords insights for L2 learning and teaching of motion in Chinese.
List of contents
Acknowledgements
Abstract
List of Tables List of Figures List of Abbreviations
Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Theoretical Stand 1.2 Motion: The Concept and Its Role in Human Conception and Language 1.3 The Scope and Arrangement of the Book 1.4 The Data
Chapter 2 Formulation of Motion: Fillmore, Talmy, Langacker, Jackendoff, and Wierzbicka
2.1 Fillmorean Source-Path-Goal Formulation 2.2 Talmy's Figure-Move-Path-Ground Characterization 2.3 Other Accounts: Langacker, Jackendoff, and Wierzbicka 2.4 Closing Remarks
Chapter 3 Figure and Ground
3.1 The Movability Hierarchy and Figure/Ground Assignment 3.2 Figure and Ground as Prototype Categories 3.3 Event-dependent Characteristics of Figure and Ground 3.4 The Representation of Figure and Ground 3.5 Conclusion
Chapter 4 Move, Path, and Manner: Patterns of Packaging Meaning in Form
4.1 Talmy's Lexicalization Patterns 4.2 Parallel System of Lexicalization in Chinese 4.3 Conclusion
Chapter 5 Path and Move
5.1 Path as the Defining Property of Motion 5.2 Path as a Conceptual Complex 5.2.1 Vector 5.2.2 Conformation 5.2.3 Direction 5.2.4 Dimension 5.2.5 Perspective 5.2.6 Summary 5.3 Path and Move: Patterns of Representation 5.3.1 Complement Verbs 5.3.2 Prepositions 5.3.3 Path Verbs 5.4 Summary
Chapter 6 Manner and Move
6.1 The Conflation of Manner and Move 6.2 Chinese [Manner + Move] Verbs 6.3 Summary
Chapter 7 Motion Expression Pedagogy and Acquisition
Appendix: The Cognitive Semantics of the Mandarin Preposition XIÀNG
About the author
Dr. Chengzhi Chu teaches Chinese language and linguistics at the University of California, Davis and directs its Chinese Language Program. He also serves on the Graduate Faculty of Linguistics of UC Davis. He is the former President of the Chinese Language Teachers Association, USA, and Guest or Honorary Professor of several other universities. Before joining UC Davis, he taught at Stanford University and the Beijing Language and Culture University for many years. He is a frequent and popular speaker at national and international conferences and workshops. He has published widely on Chinese linguistics, cognitive semantics, corpus linguistics, Chinese L2 pedagogy, application of technology in Chinese teaching, Chinese testing, and intercultural communication.
Summary
Motion is one of the most basic human experiences, and it provides an important window for looking into human cognition and language. Within the paradigm of cognitive semantics, this book presents a comprehensive study of the conceptualization and linguistic representation of motion in Mandarin Chinese. It focuses on the correlation between the ways in which Mandarin speakers conceptualize motion events and the ways in which they render them and carefully considers the typological properties. In addition to deepening our understanding of motion cognition and expressions, this study also affords insights for L2 learning and teaching of motion in Chinese.
