英文摘要 |
This paper aims at specifying the features of “iconicity” in Chinese V-V compounds. The analysis in this paper shows that the second verb of V-V compounds indicates an event either as a goal or as a result; therefore, this paper argues that Chinese V-V compounds also follow “the Principle of Temporal Sequence” (henceforth PTS) proposed by Tai (1985). Based on a diachronic study of the formation of four V-V compounds (V-you, jia-V, gai-V and bu-V) it has been demonstrated that PTS originates from serial verb constructions or is applied as a principle in creating new compounds. The paper further asserts that PTS can also explain the correlation among construction, meaning, and usage in V-V compounds. Two primary mechanisms thus emerge. The mechanism that follows PTS creates surbordinate categories, whereas the mechanism that does not follow PTS creates superordinate categories. |