摘要
本研究根据语言变异和演化的相关理论,利用三个美国英语历时语料库,考察第一人称代词主格形式we的语用称数,发现随着时间的推移,(1)we用做复数语义指称时,与其他表示复数概念的词语的搭配频率上升,类型也更丰富,显示其复数语义有逐步减弱的趋势;(2)we频繁地与内隐或感知和认知类等主观性强、一般以单数为主体的谓语动词进行搭配,在频率上也呈上升趋势,显示其单数语义有逐步加强的趋势;(3)we在当代美国日常口语中偏离传统复数语义的比例已经相当高。这些现象为"第一人称主格代词we正在由复数语义向单复数通指语义变化,未来甚至有可能发展为单数代词"的假设提供了证据,虽然该假设是否成立需要最终的事实发展结果来验证。
Based on theories of language variation and change, and data from three diachrenic corpora of American English, the present research explores the referential meaning of the first-person pronoun we. Results show that over the years, （1） we has increased its collocation with other plural categories in terms of frequency and type, indicating a weakening of its plural reference; （2） we has increased its collocation with verbs of strong subjectivity （such as private verbs, or pereeptive-cognitive verbs）, indicating a strengthening of its singular reference; （3） we has a high percentage of unconventional singular reference in the contemporary daily conversations among middle-class Americans. All these seem to support the hypothesis that we is possibly undergoing a change towards a first-person pronoun of mixed number references, and might be further developing into a pronoun of first-person singular.
出处
《外国语》
CSSCI
北大核心
2015年第6期21-35,共15页
Journal of Foreign Languages
关键词
语言变异与演化
单向性
美国英语
人称代词
第一人称复数
language variation and change
unidirectionality theory
American English
personal pronouns
first-person plural
