Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    How elastic a little can be and how much a little can do in Chinese

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Zhang, Grace
    Date
    2016
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Zhang, G. 2016. How elastic a little can be and how much a little can do in Chinese. Chinese Language and Discourse. 7 (1): pp. 1-22.
    Source Title
    Chinese Language and Discourse
    DOI
    10.1075/cld.7.1.01zha
    School
    School of Education
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/39640
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    © 2016 John Benjamins Publishing Company. Yidian ((Greek passage), a little) in Chinese is commonly considered an indefinite and under-specific quantifier. This study provides some rethinking of yidian through the lens of elasticity theory, based on real-life data from TV discussions. Elasticity theory offers new insights on the study of yidian, arguing that yidian is both an elastic quantifier and a qualifier. The findings show that while yidian indicates a small quantity and lesser degree, it is elastic and functions multi-dimensionally from mitigating to boosting. The frequency distributions of three pragmatic functions (just-right which is unmarked, mitigating and boosting which are marked) suggest that yidian is used more for informational than interpersonal and political purposes. In a positive utterance yidian tends to be a mitigator, but in negation it is a booster. The manifestation of elasticity is in yidian's fluidity, stretchability and strategy, enabling it to stretch to suit various contexts and making it a powerful 'little' word that performs a 'big' role in communication.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • The elasticity of I think: Stretching its pragmatic functions
      Zhang, Grace (2014)
      I think (ITH) is commonly used in communication. Existing studies of its pragmatic functions focus on individual functions, but their interconnection has received little attention. This study looks into ITH functions from ...
    • Advanced Technologies for Monitoring CO2 Saturation and Pore Pressure in Geologic Formations: Linking the Chemical and Physical Effects to Elastic and Transport Properties
      Mavko, G.; Vanorio, T.; Vialle, Stephanie; Saxena, N. (2014)
      Ultrasonic P- and S-wave velocities were measured over a range of confining pressures while injecting CO2 and brine into the samples. Pore fluid pressure was also varied and monitored together with porosity during injection. ...
    • Effects of isotropic and anisotropic stresses on elastic properties of shales
      Pervukhina, Marina; Golodoniuc, P.; Gurevich, Boris; Dewhurst, D. (2012)
      Understanding seismic anisotropy in shales is important for quantitative interpretation of seismic data, 4D monitoring and pore pressure prediction. Along with intrinsic anisotropy caused by preferred mineral orientation ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.