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A Study of Metonymic Mechanism of the Category of Present Tense in Grammaticalization

Author: MaoLingLing
Tutor: YangChengHu
School: Ningbo University
Course: Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
Keywords: present tense further grammaticalization metonymy
CLC: H05
Type: Master's thesis
Year: 2010
Downloads: 52
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Abstract

Titled with A Study of Metonymic Mechanism of the Category of Present Tense in Grammaticalization, this thesis makes a further grammatical study of present tense category under the direction of Croft’s matrix theory and Langacker’s profile theory. Traditional grammticalization researches focuse on morphsyntax with gradual loss of lexical meaning of lexical words, grammatical items becoming more grammatical such as clitics and affixes. Whether a single word or a structure, their grammaticalization is regarded as a process of gradual loss of lexical meaning in the aspect of function. However, the grammaticalization of present tense category here is regarded as functional extension, as it breaks through the restriction of morphosyntax. Therefore, the metonymy of present tense for both future and past tenses itself belongs to the issue of the extension in category function. This is a newly emerged topic.As a matter of fact, present tense is an already grammaticalized structure. As it proceeds to be more grammatical, its function extends to convey not only present time, but also future and past meaning. The very latter part of futher grammaticalizaiton process is exactly what this thesis concentrates on.The study of the grammaticalization of present tense category is different from that of“be going to”which has been studied in Grammaticalization (Traugott & Hopper, 2001) as a characteristic structural grammaticalization which goes from aspect to tense. The former will put emphasis on its own functional extension whereas the latter stresses its grammaticalization process and its subsequent functional change in detail.This thesis will not discuss subsequent structural change of the present tense, but put emphasis on its own further grammaticalization process. Aspectual study of English, though closely related to tense, will not be mentioned. The following four questions are going to be investigated: Firstly, why the already grammaticalized present tense can express the meaning of both future and past time, which demonstrates its own functional extension? Secondly, what is the metonymic relationship among present tense, future tense and past tense? Thirdly, how does the function of present tense extend? Fourthly, in what context can tenses (past tense, present tense and future tense) be metonymic?It is found that: the same law as morphosyntactic rule exists in grammaticalization of present tense category. As the function of present tense further extends, its grammaticalization process continues. The relation between present, future and past tenses can be metonymically interpreted. They are contained within one matrix domain and are adjacent to each other; with specific contexts involved, present tense may also express future and past meaning or simultaneously both. Above all, this study breaks through the research restriction of morphosyntax, illustrating the process of further grammaticalization of present tense category.

A Study of Metonymic Mechanism of the Category of Present Tense in Grammaticalization

Abstract

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