The Emergence of the Pragmatic Function of Construction "<i>Di-</i>Noun (of Person)"

Abstract

The core viewpoint of Emergent Grammar is that grammatical structure and its meaning emerge in process of language use. The meaning of construction is the whole is greater than sum of parts, and conceptual integration of construction is process and meaning of its emergence. By discussing emergent process, motivation and mechanism of construction of Di-Noun (of person) in Shunde dialect, this paper holds that emergent meaning of construction generates from prototype structure to construction form, and its features of constructionalization emerge in aspects of syntactic structure, semantic and pragmatic functions. For one hand, degree of integration between forms and meanings of construction Di-Noun (of person) rises, thus its meaning can not be deduced from its literal meaning; semantic restriction on construction increases, which leads to increase of solidification of structure and meaning ; subjective interaction gradually becomes prominent, thus construction expresses speaker's subjective evaluation and concern towards hearer. On other hand, on-site, interactive and immediate nature of conversation is pragmatic condition for emergence of meaning and function of construction. Emergent Grammar offers important enlightenment to study of construction and constructionalization that not only effect of syntactic environment on construction but also role of conversational environment should be carefully examined.