Modern Chinese Lexicology by Ge Benyi

Author:Ge Benyi
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Taylor & Francis (CAM)
Published: 2018-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

(VIII) Correspondence between word meaning concrete object

The correspondence between word meaning and concrete object means that although word meaning is generalized and correspondent to concept, it is used to denote a concrete and objective thing in actual linguistic communication, i. e., word meaning always corresponds to concrete object. Every word will be used in specific verbal communication; therefore word meaning is correspondent to concrete object.

The correspondence between word meaning and concrete object is based on the foundation of the correspondence between word meaning and concept: only when word meaning is correspondent to concept can it denote specific objective things in the actual context and thus correspondent to concrete objects. For example, in the above-mentioned “这条鱼真大 (Zhe tiao yu zhen da, ‘This fish is so big’)”, the word meaning of “鱼” does not only designate the concept of “fish”, but also denote “such a” specific “fish”; here the word meaning of “fish” is correspondent to the “big and specific fish” in addition to being correspondent to the concept of “fish”, thus the word meaning of “fish” is not only correspondent to concept, but also correspondent to a concrete object. For another example, in “小王的书是新买的 (Xiao Wang de shu shi xin mai de, ‘Xiao Wang’s book is newly bought’)”, “书 (shu, ‘book’)” does not only designate the concept of book, but also denote the specific “book” that newly bought by Xiao Wang: thus the word meaning is not only correspondent to concept but also correspondent to a concrete object.

When word meaning is correspondent to concrete object, its extension will be narrowed down and its intension be enriched, so what it designates is much richer than when it only corresponds to concept.

The characteristics of word meaning are manifold and are interconnected at the same time. Only after having a thorough and proper understanding of the characteristics of word meaning can one have a thorough and proper mastery of word meaning and employ words in a comparatively right manner.

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