Title

A Lexical-Semantic and Collostructional Analysis of the Near-Synonymous Verbs La, Tuo, and Che in Mandarin Chinese

Author

Cheng Szu-ting , Yeh Jui-chuan

Genre

Article  

Pages

155-203

Download

PDF

Language

Chinese

Key words

near-synonymous verbs, lexical semantics, collostructional analysis, corpus

Abstract

    Based on corpus data, this study examines the subtle differences among the near- synonymous Mandarin verbs la 拉 ‘pull,’ tuo 拖 ‘drag,’ and che 扯 ‘tug’ from the perspectives of lexical semantics and collostructional analysis. Lexical semantic analysis shows that all three verbs encode manual force applied to a patient, yet they differ in the manner of force application and the resulting effects, as evidenced by their metaphorical and metonymic extensions. The collostructional analysis reveals that la readily combines with a wide range of objects and complements, highlighting the direction of motion, although the actual direction depends on the reference point. Tuo foregrounds the path, typically collocating with objects that require movement along a surface and with complements denoting slowness or fatigue, thus encoding the effect of friction during directed motion. Che profiles the manner of force application, highlighting the sudden exertion of force that results in the movement of the patient, and it tends to co-occur with objects involving motion without surface contact as well as with neutral or negative complements.