THE DIACHRONIC EVOLUTION OF SCHEMATIC CONSTRUCTIONS: THE CASE OF CHINESE LIAN XP DOU/YE VP CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

With the development of Diachronic Construction Grammar and Constructionalization theory, the research scope of constructions has been broadened to include the evolution of schematic constructions. However, the study of schematic constructions doesn’t get rid of the influence of grammaticalization theory, which leads to the confusion between the evolution of substantive constructions and schematic constructions. This dissertation aims to explore the formation and especially the extension rules of schematic constructions, which can be compared with the evolution rules of substantive constructions. Three case studies of schematic constructions are investigated in this dissertation. Chinese Lian XP Dou/Ye VP（连XP都/也VP）construction, as in “Zhege Daoli lian xiaohair dou zhidao” (Even a child knows this) is the primary one, on the basis of which, Chinese Ba（把）construction and Emerge-hide construction (L V NP) are the other two to verify and supplement the evolution rules. Through the analysis and comparison, this dissertation concludes that the evolution rules of schematic constructions are different from those of substantive constructions. Therefore, two theoretical models should be established to distinguish these two different kinds of constructions.