Chinese Lexical Categorization: Theory and Practice *
Chia-Ling Hsieh
National Chiao Tung University
clhsieh@mail.nctu.edu.tw
Abstract
This paper attempts to settle the disputes of Chinese lexical categorization by
advancing a prototype-based approach from a multi-criterion perspective. Given the
lack of morphological and syntactic distinctions, Chinese parts of speech cannot
easily be defined by making reference to formal characteristics. This has led to a long
debate over what and how many criteria will suffice for the establishment of different
categories. Some linguists argue for a mono-criterion treatment, which assigns words
to particular classes on either semantic or syntactic grounds (eg. Zhu 1982; Ma 1987;
Chen 1990; Hu 1996). However, a more widely accepted treatment is to manifest
linguistic categorization in terms of multiple grammatical levels (eg. Tang 1990;
Chang 1992; CKIP 1993; Wen 1993). Though the criteria and the importance of each
differ among accounts, it is widely acknowledged that the criteria are to be tested out
through binary features [+] and [–]. This results in categories with homogeneous
members and clear-cut boundaries. Straightforward as it is, this traditional approach is
problematic in that a large number of lexical items can neither be unambiguously
assigned to a single category nor be subsumed under a separate one. Chinese
auxiliaries (eg. ke-neng “may”, ying-gai “should”, ke-yi “can”) are a case in point. As
illustrated by their semantic import and syntactic distribution, modal auxiliary verbs
are found to be inconsistently represented. The same holds true as they are
re-classified into verbs and adverbs along traditional lines. To solve such dilemma,
this paper provides a broader conceptualization of multiple criteria than that of
previous studies. In particular, we argue for the role of semantic, syntactic and
pragmatic factors in determining the categorization of Chinese lexical items. On the
assumption that linguistic classes constitute fuzzy sets (Zadeh 1987; Shi 1996), we
propose the prototype-based category theory. In this theory, members of each category
are characterized as ranging across a spectrum from prototype to non-prototype.
Differences among categories are thus relative and continuous, with transition
features forming fuzzy adjacencies. In order to substantiate our hypothesis, we show
that only multiple criteria can capture the intermediate behaviors of Chinese modal
verbs and modal adverbs. The overlapping nature of these two sets lends strong
empirical support to the prototype-based theory. An indication of this includes the
inconsistent legitimacy of modal expressions being negated by bu “not” (eg. bu
zen-wei “do not think” vs. *bu-xiang “do not think”) or standing alone as answers to
yes-no questions (eg. que-ding “be sure” vs. *cai “guess”). Our analysis also sheds
light on the identification and division of lexical classes by offering a universal basis
for the theory and practice of linguistic categorization.
*
This paper was presented at The First Conference on Teaching of Languages, Linguistics, and
Literature. May 1, 2004. Kaohsiung, Taiwan: English Department, National Kaohsiung Normal
University. (NSC 92-2411-H-009-017)
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