Item Details

Situation-Bound Utterances in Chinese

Issue: Vol 1 No. 1 (2016)

Journal: East Asian Pragmatics

Subject Areas:

DOI: 10.1558/eap.v1i1.28033

Abstract:

This paper argues that when analyzing formulaic language use in Chinese besides the three main groups, proverbs (谚语 yànyŭ), idioms (成语 chéngyŭ, and 惯用语 guànyòngyŭ compounds) we need to distinguish and pay special attention to a fourth category: situation-bound utterances (情景制约性话语 qíngjǐng zhìyuēxìng huàyŭ). Situation-bound utterances (SBU) constitute a unique group within idiomatic expressions because their use is tied to particular situations. SBUs fulfill social needs. People know that if they use these prefabricated expressions they are safe: nobody will misunderstand them because these phrases usually mean the same to most speakers of a speech community.
The paper aims to discuss the relationship of SBUs to yànyŭ, chéngyŭ, and guànyòngyŭ compounds and explain why it is important to handle it as a separate lexical category and highlight the unique nature and use of SBUs.

Author: Istvan Kecskes

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