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Investigating linguistic relativity through classifier effect.

本研究通过语言中的量词系统来探索语言相对论的假说。在诸如汉语普通话这样的量词语言中,名词通过名量词之间的搭配关系可以被分成不同的类。属于同一个量词类的名词所指通常在形状,有生性或者功能等方面有着共同的特征。这个研究关注的问题是,使用量词语言是否会影响一个人对于日常物体间相似度的判断。 / 相较于非量词语言母语者来说,量词语言母语者可能是因为两个物体属于同一个量词类而倾向于认为它们彼此更相似(量词类假说),也可能是因为两个物体在形状、有生性和大小这些特征上有共同点而认为它们彼此更相似(量词特征假说)。为了检验这两种可能性,这个研究中涉及到了两种量词语言普通话和粤语。这两种语言的量词系统在量词特征方面有很多共同点,但在量词对于名词的分类上却有不同。 / 前两个实验通过比较北京普通话母语者,香港粤语母语者和欧洲语言母语者来检验两个量词假说。结果发现,中国被试和欧美被试在物体相似判断任务中表现出了明显的整体差异,而中国被试内部,即普通话和粤语被试之间则没有明显差异,两者表现十分相似。中国被试的结果主要对量词特征假说提供了支持,而非量词类假说。此前研究中发现的量词效应也并不完全是由于名量词搭配这一语言关系引起的。此外,在第三个实验中,通过测试北京普通话母语者和有高级汉语水平的欧洲语言母语者,还验证了语言内部因素,即量词类之间的差异对于量词效应的产生也会有影响。 / 这个研究的结果表明使用和学习一种量词语言可以影响一个人对于物体间相似度的判断,这一发现为语言相对论提供了证据。 / This study examines the hypothesis of linguistic relativity through classifier systems. In a classifier language like Mandarin, nouns can be categorized through the collocation relationship between nouns and classifiers into different categories. The referents of nouns in the same classifier categories usually have some features in common, such as shape, animacy or function. This study is concerned with whether speaking a classifier language can affect one's similarity judgment on everyday objects. / It is likely that classifier language speakers tend to judge two objects that belong to the same classifier category as similar (category-based classifier hypothesis). Alternatively, classifier language speakers attend to certain features (e.g. shape, animacy, and size) between objects more than do non-classifier language speakers (feature-based classifier hypothesis). In order to distinguish these two possibilities, two classifier languages were included in the investigation - Mandarin and Cantonese, which have much in common in terms of the semantic features of classifiers, but differ in the classifier categorization of nouns. / The first two experiments tested the two classifier hypotheses with Beijing Mandarin speakers, Hong Kong Cantonese speakers, and European language speakers. There was an overall difference between Chinese speakers and European language speakers, but Mandarin and Cantonese speakers behaved quite similarly in terms of similarity judgment. Lack of difference between Mandarin and Cantonese speakers gives more support to feature-based classifier hypothesis than to category-based classifier hypothesis. It suggests that the classifier effect reported in previous studies is not merely contributed by the classifier-noun collocation. Besides, some other within-language factors in terms of the differences between classifier categories can also account for the absence of classifier category effect. They were supported by the results of the third experiment, with Beijing Mandarin speakers and European language speakers who were advanced Mandarin learners as subjects. / Findings of this study offer evidence for linguistic relativity, by showing that our similarity judgment on objects can be influenced by speaking or learning a classifier language. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Wang, Ruijing. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-127). / Abstracts also in Chinese; appendix includes Chinese. / Abstract --- p.iii / Table of Contents --- p.vi / List of Tables and Figures --- p.vii / Chapter 1 --- Classifiers in Mandarin and Cantonese --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Classifier languages --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Syntax of classifiers in Mandarin and Cantonese --- p.1 / Chapter 1.3 --- Types of classifiers in Chinese --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- Classifier category and overlaps between classifier categories --- p.11 / Chapter 1.5 --- Classifier features --- p.16 / Chapter 2 --- Empirical studies of linguistic relativity on classifier languages --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1 --- Linguistic relativity --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2 --- Classifier hypothesis and count-mass noun hypothesis --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2 --- Empirical studies of the classifier hypothesis --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3 --- Empirical studies of count-mass noun hypothesis --- p.43 / Chapter 2.4 --- Summary --- p.51 / Chapter 3 --- Studies --- p.52 / Chapter 3.1 --- Pre-study 1: Classifier Survey --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2 --- Experiment 1A: Similarity judgment task with pictorial stimuli --- p.59 / Chapter 3.3 --- Experiment 1B: Similarity judgment task with word stimuli --- p.67 / Chapter 3.4 --- Experiment 2: testing the gradient classifier model --- p.78 / Chapter 4 --- General discussion --- p.92 / Chapter 4.1 --- Classifier effect as shape effect --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2 --- Classifier categories and classifier languages --- p.94 / Chapter 4.3 --- Classifier effect as preferred strategy and habitual thought --- p.101 / Chapter 4.4 --- The function of classifiers and the classifier effect --- p.103 / Chapter 4.5 --- Bilinguals and second language leaners --- p.104 / Chapter 4.6 --- Future studies --- p.105 / Chapter 5 --- Conclusion --- p.107 / Appendix --- p.108 / References --- p.123

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:cuhk.edu.hk/oai:cuhk-dr:cuhk_328676
Date January 2012
ContributorsWang, Ruijing., Chinese University of Hong Kong Graduate School. Division of Linguistics.
Source SetsThe Chinese University of Hong Kong
LanguageEnglish, Chinese, Chinese
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText, bibliography
Formatelectronic resource, electronic resource, remote, 1 online resource (viii, 127 leaves) : ill. (some col.)
RightsUse of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons “Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International” License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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