An Analysis of Chinese Tag Questions with a Cross-Linguistic Comparison to English Tags

IF 0.3 0 LANGUAGE & LINGUISTICS
Ai-li C. Hsin
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引用次数: 5

Abstract

This study analyzes Chinese tag questions in contrast to English tag questions. Whereas English tags are syntax-based, Chinese tags are more discourse-based and the choice of tag verbs is decided mainly according to the speaker's discourse intentions, such as asking for an agreement of the host proposition, seeking consent of an invitation, making a refutation, etc. The Chinese tag question comprises a tag verb in the interrogative form, namely V-not-V, V-particle, or Neg-V-particle, and a null "pro" of CP, which is identical with the host sentence. The various interrogative forms of the tag verb display varied degrees of presupposition from the speaker. Tag verbs include mostly the declarative tags of "dui", "shi", "you", etc. and imperative tags of "hao", "xing", "keyi". Some epistemic modals such as "yinggai", "keneng" and some discourse commentary verbs such as "guai", "zan", "ku", "sheng", etc. can also be tag verbs, though in relatively low frequency. From the cross-linguistic comparison, it is concluded that English tags might be harder for Chinese EFL learners to acquire than Chinese tags for English CFL learners due to the syntactic complexity of canonical tags and irregularity in formation in non-canonical tags.
汉语附加疑问句与英语附加疑问句的跨语言对比分析
本文将汉语附加疑问句与英语附加疑问句进行对比分析。英语标签语是以句法为基础的,而汉语标签语则是以语篇为基础的,标签动词的选择主要是根据说话人的语篇意图来决定的,如征求主人对命题的同意、征求邀请的同意、提出反驳等。汉语附加疑问句包括一个疑问句形式的附加动词,即V-not-V、V-particle或否定-V-particle,以及一个与主句相同的CP的空“pro”。标记动词的不同疑问句形式显示出说话人不同程度的预设。标签动词主要包括“对”、“是”、“有”等陈述句标签和“好”、“好”、“好”等祈使句标签。一些认知情态动词如“应接”、“可能”和一些话语评论动词如“怪”、“赞”、“苦”、“生”等也可以作为标签动词,但频率相对较低。跨语言比较表明,由于规范标签的句法复杂性和非规范标签信息的不规则性,中国英语学习者习得英语标签的难度大于英语学习者习得汉语标签的难度。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
Taiwan Journal of Linguistics
Taiwan Journal of Linguistics LANGUAGE & LINGUISTICS-
CiteScore
0.40
自引率
0.00%
发文量
0
审稿时长
20 weeks
期刊介绍: Taiwan Journal of Linguistics is an international journal dedicated to the publication of research papers in linguistics and welcomes contributions in all areas of the scientific study of language. Contributions may be submitted from all countries and are accepted all year round. The language of publication is English. There are no restrictions on regular submission; however, manuscripts simultaneously submitted to other publications cannot be accepted. TJL adheres to a strict standard of double-blind reviews to minimize biases that might be caused by knowledge of the author’s gender, culture, or standing within the professional community. Once a manuscript is determined as potentially suitable for the journal after an initial screening by the editor, all information that may identify the author is removed, and copies are sent to at least two qualified reviewers. The selection of reviewers is based purely on professional considerations and their identity will be kept strictly confidential by TJL. All feedback from the reviewers, except such comments as may be specifically referred to the attention of the editor, is faithfully relayed to the authors to assist them in improving their work, regardless of whether the paper is to be accepted, accepted upon minor revision, revised and resubmitted, or rejected.
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