5. Structuring Principles in Language An Overview.ppt

5. Structuring Principles in Language: An Overview 5. Structuring Principles in Language 5. Structuring Principles in Language Almost all language is symbolic as the relationship between words and their meanings is not (merely) based on contiguity or similarity, but on convention. Indexical, iconic and symbolic principles 5.1. The Principle of Indexicality in Language we can “point” to things in our scope of attention. Egocentric view of the world Here and Now 5. Structuring Principles in Language The use of index: An example: Metonymy (轉喻) The substitution of a word x for another y, where the referential objects of x and y are existentially or habitually connected. Part for Whole: we dont hire longhairs. Producer for Product: He bought a Ford. Used for User: The buses are on strike. Controller for Controlled: Bush bombed Bagdad. Institution for Personnel: Exon raised its prices again. Place for Institution: The White House isnt saying anything. 5. Structuring Principles in Language Ancient Chinese women are called, metonymically, as: 根據服裝: 巾幗, 裙釵, 青衣, 紅妝, 紅裙 根據化妝品: 粉黛, 粉頭, 紅粉 ? 根據容顏: 紅顏, 皓齒, 娥眉 ? 根據膳食: 糟糠 5. Structuring Principles in Language Deictic expressions: Words such as here, there, now, then, today, tomorrow, this, that, come and go as well as the personal pronouns I, you and we are described as deictic expressions. (‘deixis’ from Greek deiktos to deiknumi ‘show’: 直示、指示) Deictic expressions relate to the speaking EGO, who imposes his perspective on the world. depend for their interpretation on the immediate physical situation in which they are used. 1. Person deixis (pointing to a person) -- me, you, him, them 2. Place deixis (pointing to a location) – here, come, 這裡, 呢度 3. Time deixis (pointing to a time) -- now, then, 今天, 上週 5. Structuring Principles in Language The EGO also serves as the “deictic centre” for locating things in space. (1) a. 圖書館在電影院的旁邊。 b. 電影院在圖書館的旁邊。 (2) a. 小貓在小狗的旁邊。 b. 小狗在小貓的旁邊。 (3) a. 自行車在圖書館的旁邊。 b. ?? 圖