A corpus-based study of semantic extensions of color terms in Chinese from synchronic and diachronic perspectives

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on semantic extensions of color terms towards non-physical color senses. Through a diachronic analysis of their usages in corpora, the evolution of the color term RED in Chinese is shown 紅 progressively replaceing 赤. During the Zhou dynasty, the color term RED is only actualized by 赤.紅 emerges during the Han dynasty as meaning 'pink' but then starts to compete with赤in denoting the 'red color'sense in the Sui, Tang dynasties. By the Yuan, Ming dynasties, 赤is still frequently used, but it is eventually completely replaced by紅 during the Qing dynasty. The replacement process reflects the Scurve trajectory in lexical diffusion. The evolution of the color term RED also exemplifies the prototype theory in semantic change. The word frequencies and extensions of senses are good indicators of shift from one prototypical core to another. The prototypical core centre having the 'red color' sense was shifted distinctly from 赤 to 紅taking place over the time span of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. The most dominant sense of 赤 is ‘bare, naked' in modem Chinese after the form ,紅 has successfully replaced the form 赤 as 'red color' in the Qing dynasty. The direction of the evolution of the semantic change of color terms follows: OBJECT > QUALITY > PROCESS However, it doesn't follow the path when the change is undergone by structural construction, such as the process of ellipsis and the assimilation of word components. We believe that extension from abstract quality to process is unidirectional, but not vice versa. The stage of emergence in verbalization occurs quite late too. Finally, the general mechanisms of semantic extensions of color terms are discussed in three aspects: cognitive development such as generalization, specialization, synesthesia, metaphor and metonymy; structural construction such as assimilation of word components and process of ellipsis; homophone inclusion with direct adoption of meaning from homophone. The effect on semantic change from the assimilation of word components is highlighted.

Date of Award	4 Oct 2004
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	City University of Hong Kong
Supervisor	William S Y WANG (Supervisor)