疑问句的汉英对比研究 = A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CHINESE AND ENGLISH INTERROGATIVES

Abstract

Interrogatives are statements of query, and are present in all languages. They can be further classified into different categories, based on different characteristics, such as their structural features and the function they possess. This is so for both the Chinese and English Interrogatives. Research done in all these varied aspects has been considerably extensive, although they are more focused in studies done within the two individual languages separately. In order for any language research to be more comprehensive and relevant, comparative studies of different languages are of vital necessity. Therefore, to better understand and appreciate the unique nature and structure of both the Chinese and English Interrogatives, the comparative study of these two languages in this aspect should be regarded with great importance. However, past research of this nature might have been more randomly specific, comparing the different types and aspects of Interrogatives between these two languages separately. As such, this thesis adopts a systematic approach to categorize and compile these past research results. Findings show that, as individual and separate entities, the Chinese and English languages each have a particular set of rules that have to be followed strictly when expressing Interrogatives. On the other hand, these strict conventions which constrain both the languages do not seem to apply in multi- lingual Singapore, which has a social setting separate and unique from the countries of origin of both Chinese and English. Through further study on the special features and characteristics portrayed in Singapore Chinese and Singapore English (Singlish), this paper thus argues the contextual impact of social/cultural values and systems on two completely different languages.