Ten cases of continuum in language

Abstract

Continuum is a one-dimensional pattern with a concise form and the significance of universality. “Prototype Theory” considers the members with the most common characteristics as the core members of one category, and all members of that category share some similar family features. Furthermore, quantum logic revised the classical logic law of “excluded middle” to the law of “included middle”, which provides us with a new perspective in the linguistic study. Based on the above theories and ideas, this paper lists ten cases of continuum in language: 1) the continuum of language similarity; 2) the continuum of word and non-word in Chinese; 3) the continuum of animacy of words in language; 4) the continuum of communicative pressure; 5) the continuum of sentential focus; 6) the vowel-consonant continuum; 7) the continuum of phonation types; 8) the continuum of nasality of sounds; 9) the continuum of r-suffixation; 10) the continuum of words with neutral tone. Continuum is the renewal of academic concepts and research methods, which is of great significance to the synchronic and diachronic study of language.