“常常”词义中的时、动量因素分析

Abstract

The word “Changchang (often)” is generally regarded as a time adverb or a frequency adverb. Most dictionaries lay emphasis on its meanings of “large number of actions,” “short unit time” and “short time interval.” That is why the meanings of “Changchang (often)” include both factors of time quantity and motion quantity. Its motion quantity factor lies in the number of actions. Its time quantity factor is reflected in two ways: the length of “unit time” involved in frequency and the length of “time interval” of actions. The findings of this research paper suggest that in sentences that express the frequency of actions, there exists limit of “quantity value” in the meanings of “number of actions,” “no long unit time” and “short time interval” of “Changchang (often).” “Number of actions” is limited by maximum value and minimum value while “unit time” and “time interval” are limited by maximum value. The limit of maximum and minimum values is the logical basis the validity of “Changchang” clauses. Being out of the range of their quantity value would invalidate “Changchang (often).” The limit of quantity value of “Changchang (often)” should be paid special attention to when acquiring and applying “Changchang (often)” sentences.