The research on sequential meaning extension: A case study on the polysemy of (kan)

Abstract

Meaning extension patterns can help to construct the large-scale semantic knowledge base. After analyzing the meanings of (kan) in modern Chinese, we found a new extension pattern - sequential extension. That pattern is also reflected in the meaning extensions of some other high frequency verbs. The meanings extended with the sequential pattern are characterized by the following: (1) overall continuity, (2) activating the before and after, (3) the distance determining the degree of activation. On the view of cognition, the sequential extension pattern roots in the mode of ACTING-RESULT and metonymic mechanism. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.