Abstract
The verb-complement structure “wanle(完了)” is attached to verbs, contributing to the conceptual propositional meaning of sentences, while discourse marker “wanle(完了)” is characterized with the function of constructing textual cohesion, as well as expressing speaker’s emotion and attitude. Existing studies either concentrate on the grammaticalization or lexicalization of “wanle(完了)” or its marking functions in discourse, but the process of its pragmaticalization has not been clearly explained. Data analysis shows that the pragmaticalization of verb-complement structure “wanle(完了)” is closely related to the scope expansion from the loss of structural elements in high-frequent use as well as the intensification of subjective meaning from the internalisation of contextual meaning. The pragmaticalization of “wanle(完了)” benefits from the change of conceptual focus, and the shift from grammatical to pragmatic focus follows the projection path from “action completion meaning” to “event completion meaning” and finally to “completion meaning”.
Translated title of the contribution | On the Pragmaticalization of Discourse Marker “Wanle(完了)” |
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Original language | Chinese (Simplified) |
Pages (from-to) | 66-73 |
Journal | 现代语文 |
Issue number | 9 (总第747期) |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2024 |
Research Keywords
- “wanle(完了)”
- verb-complement structure
- discourse marker
- pragmaticalization
- scope expansion
- internalisation of contextual meaning
- focus