汉语双数概念研究 = Dual Number in Mandarin

Abstract

In this paper, we are discussing the expression of dual in Mandarin and some relative questions. This paper mainly consists of two parts, one is the description of morphemes which are semantically related to dual, or the number ?2?, and the other is the analysis of how the dual is expressed in Mandarin, what its relation with plural is and what the nature of dual is. All these questions are solved in 7chapters. Chapter 1, the Introduction part shows the value of this topic, the method we used to study and the source of our data. Chapter 2 is a literature review of the existed studies on dual and the number category, including the studies in general linguistics and the ones focusing on Chinese Mandarin. In Chapter 3, we describe the distribution of morphemes which semantically related to dual, or the number ?2?: ?Er(3.1)?, ?Liang(3.2)?, ?Lia(3.3)?, ?Shuang(3.4)?, ?dui(3.5)?. The fourth chapter bases on Chapter 3, therefore shows the lexical and syntax means to express the concept of dual. In Chapter 5, we view the expressing of dual in the system of number, and proved that the dual in Mandarin is facultative number, and we can refer to two objects in general number or plural form as long as the concept of dual is not emphasize. and in Chapter 5, we proved that the expression of dual number in Mandarin closely connects to the concept of ?pair?, instead of just expressing the number ?2?. In addition, we attached some data by the end of the main text in order to give more information other than the examples in the text. The data can also be used in further study on similar subject.