A Review of Chinese Redundant Negation

李璕

【Abstract】Chinese redundant negation, characteristic of unecnomical language structure and illogical meaning expression, represents an intriguing language phenomenon well worth exploring. By far, plenty of researches have been made on Chinese redundant negation, encompassing researches on specific types of it microscopically and the issue of redundant negation in general macroscopically. This thesis attempts to conduct a review of Chinese redundant negation in the hope of deepening the understanding of this peculiar phenomenon meanwhile yeilding some pedagogical implication for second language teaching.

【Key words】redundant negation; illogical; pedagogical implication; second language teaching

1. An Overview of Chinese Redundant Negation

The attention to language redundancy arises in response to information theory proposed by Shannon in 1948, who defined redundancy as “the element that is not relevant to the sense of the message in the signal” (as cited in Shi, 2010, p.5). One interesting phenomenon worth noting in redundancy should be redundant negation. It is a natural tendency to use positive forms to express affirmative sense while the negative morphological forms, for example, the addition of negative markers like bu, mei, bie, etc, to convey a negative meaning. However, there are cases where the negative form doesnt mean negation. Zhu(1959) took the lead in dealing with this special phenomenon in his work On “chayidianer” in 1959, marking the prelude to the massive trend of research into redundant negation (Zhu, 1959). Later, more researchers aired their opinions on this phenomenon. Lv(1985) referred to this phenomenon as “the obscurity of negative function” (Lv, 1985); Shi (1992) was the first to use “redundant negation” to describe this phenomenon and argued that pure redundant negative words hardly existed; instead, they usually played the role in emphasizing the mood functionally(Shi, 1992).

More than one researcher was involved in the attempt to define redundant negation, most of whom were structurally oriented. By redundant negation, Zhang(2004) refers to the language structure that doesnt express negative meaning with the negative markers(Zhang, 2004, p.213). Dai(2004) contends that redundant negation occurs when the negative markers (bu, mei, bie, wei, etc.) are not necessary to the understanding of the construction with the negative markers in it(Dai, 2004).

To sum up, diverse as the definitions are, they are in tune with each other in the description of the feature—the negative markers dont alter the meaning of the positive expression and are therefore redundant.

2. Studies of Chinese Redundant Negation

Being a language structure frequently used and also one that is uneconomical and incompatible with formal logic, redundant negation is consolidating its status as a phenomenon worth considering, encouraging researchers to study it and relevant theses do abound. The beginning of the study dates back to 1959, when Zhu(1959) embarked on the analysis of one type of redundant negation—the construction “chayidian+(没)V” (差一点儿没). Gradually, researches of all types of redundant negation started in full swing, with this language phenomenon claiming growing concern of researchers and various thoughts contending for attention.

2.1 Studies of “chayidian+VP”(差一点+VP)

With regard to “chayidian”, Zhu(1959) ascribes its formation to the speakers expectation: a positive form expresses a negative meaning and a negative form expresses a positive meaning when the speaker expects the thing to happen and vice versa. Later, Shi(1993), who has found some exceptions to Zhus rule, endeavors to analyze the construction from an alternative perspective by bringing in the concepts of “positive constituents” and “negative constituents”, aiming at shedding light on the logic behind it. Dubian(1994) centers on the logical relations of “chayidian+(mei)V” to discuss the semantic structure and the pragmatic condition, featuring the inclusion of first-hand corpus from her Chinese learners. Equally inspired by Zhus introducing “expectation”, Dong Weiguang(2001) seeks to offer a more thorough and reasonable classification in a cognitive account. He makes an anatomy of the structure by distinguishing “result tendency” and “event tendency”.

2.2 Studies of “xiaoxinbie+VP”(小心别+VP)

Another type of redundant negation gaining much concern is “xiaoxinbie+V”(小心别+VP). Dai(2004) explores both semantically and syntactically the restrictions in its usage, in view of the semantic differences between positive expressions and negative ones. Examining the constraints from the pragmatic perspective, Hou(2008) concludes VP generally implies “undesirability” in redundant negation. Wang(2014) clarifies the syntactic and semantic features as well as the pragmatic functions through the comparison between “xiaoxin+VP” and “xiaoxinbie+VP”, which leads to further discussion of the mechanism and condition of its formation.

2.3 Studies of “mei+VP+zhiqian”(没VP之前)

Opinions varies on the study of the construction “mei+VP+zhiqian”(VP之前) as well. Wang(2004), who is concerned about the distinction between “VP之前” and “没VP之前”, compares them in terms of temporal meaning, grammatical form and other related pragmatic issues with the conclusion that the replacibility of two constructions hinges on the reference point in timing signified by “VP”. Xu(2006) claims, according to his exploration of the semantic differences between “VP+zhiqian”(VP之前) and “mei+VPzhiqian”(没VP之前), that the differences are threefold due to distinct theoretical basis of formation.

2.4 Studies of “buyihuier”(不一会儿)

Zhang(1984) probes into “buyihuier”(不一会儿) and “yihuier”(一会儿), which refer to a rather short time span, based on grammatical function. He points out that the disparity between them lies in tense, durative aspect, negation and subjective modality, etc, when it is used as a complement. When analyzing the semantic features and syntactic functions between the two constructions, Liu(2006) suggests that “yihuier” is an objective expression and therefore an unmarked language form. On the contrary, “buyihuier”, which indicates the speakers attitude, represents a subjective expression and a marked language form.

2.5 Studies of “haobu+AP”(好不+AP)

Wondering whether those APs share anything in common semantically, Shen(1994) conducts semantic and pragmatic studies. By introducing “deontic words” and “expectation”, he explains the phenomenon using politeness principles, grammaticalization and other theories. Zou(2006) classifies “haobu” into three types in a semantic and pragmatic analysis, arguing the positive ones derive from ironic euphemism, the negative ones from negative euphemism while the positive-negative ones from positive euphemism. Liu(2012) launches a research of the structure of “haobu”. By dividing AP into adjectives, verbs, nouns, he examines the structure in terms of syntactic functions, semantics and pragmatics.

2.6 Studies of Redundant Negation in General from Macroscopic Perspective

In sympathy with researches on one certain type of redundant negation coming out in profusion, those treating redundant negation as a holistic topic proliferate as well.

Zhang(2004) commits himself to three issues in his work On Modern Chinese Adverbs: the structure of redundant negation in phrases and sentences, the causes of the formation and the subtle differences pragmatically between redundant negation and its corresponding positive form. Cao(2007) centers on an integrated analysis of the features, functions and the factors contributing to the form of redundant negation from cognitive and pragmatic perspectives, in the hope that the underlying mechanism on which redundant negation is built could be unraveled. Shi(2001) takes a macroscopic view to reconsider the definition and classification of redundant negation. To her credit, Shi(2011) innovatively takes both form and meaning into account in classifying redundant negation, representing a fair enlightenment. Wang(2012) expounds on four types of special negations in modern Chinese—meta-language negation, presupposition negation, redundant negation and indirect negation, guided by a synthesis of cognitive linguistics with pragmatic theories.

3. Conclusion

To sum up, the pioneers in earlier researches focused mainly on linguistic structures with attention mostly attached to semantic and syntactic perspectives; while later researchers tended to engage in it pragmatically and cognitively. Moreover, its evident from their researches that redundant negation diversifies in form and meaning, rendering the classification a rather intricate task.

It is generally acknowledged, when it comes to language teaching, that redundant negation usually poses grave challenge for foreign students to understand and use with its uneconomical structure and illogical meaning expression. From my perspective, teachers are expected to shift the emphasis from its mere structure and literal meaning to its notion, i.e., the meaning one wants to convey, and how the notion is expressed through the addition of the “redundant” negative word. For example, “不一会儿” means “soon after ...” and what is intended to convey is “the time span is really short”; here “不” serves to stress “the time is so short that it is beyond expectation”. In this way, students will find that negative words are of pragmatic value. In other words, negative words might be redundant in terms of formal logic, but they are necessary in imparting the attitude, emotion, etc, of the speaker. Thus, no element is actually redundant.

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