| Summary: | 碩士 === 輔仁大學 === 語言學研究所 === 96 === This thesis is a study on objects, verb particles, prototype, metaphorical use and functions of the Mandarin Chinese verb “chi” in view of historical development, grammar, cognitive semantics and pragmatics.
In ancient China, “chi” does not mean “to eat”, but “to stammer”. The meaning of “eating” has developed from “shi2”食、“chi” 喫to “chi”吃. We can clearly find the distribution of the three verbs in the classical Chinese literature. In order to examine the characteristics of “Chi” and the relationship between “Chi” and its objects and verb particles, it also explores the morphological phenomenon of objects and verb particles of “chi”.
. The “verb particles” were defined as “shang4(up), xia4(down), qi3(rise), kai(open), zou3(walk), dao4(arrive), diao4(drop), wang3(head for)” by Teng (1977) and chu (out) by Chen (2004). As Mandarin Chinese verb “chi” has wide extensive meanings, many of the “Chi +N” meaning are away from the prototypical meaning of eating. It displays polysemy, meaning feeling, suffering, enjoying, depending, eliminating, getting benefit and the metanomy of living. Though the meanings seem various and opposite, they are actually developed from various dimensions of eating, close related with human cognitive mechanism. The frequent use of eating metaphors also shows that human thoughts are embodied in daily life.
Agriculture is a standing point of Chinese society, and Chinese food is still famous around the world. “Chi” (eating) in Mandarin is the symbol of living, it is also reflected in the morphology and metaphors of “chi”.
Some taboos in Chinese will also be transferred to “chi” metaphors, serving as euphemism. Based on language economy, the metaphorical phrases of “chi” are frequently used between close friends due to the briefness and simplicity. They also promote interpersonal relationship, serve the function of self-defense, humor and relieving mental stress. Therefore, “chi” metaphors in Mandarin are widely used in informal occasions, and replace more negative, long-winded or serious expressions.
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