Analysing logical meanings in Chinese: a discourse semantic perspective

Abstract

Logical meaning, which is broadly concerned with relations between clauses, has long been of interest in linguistics. In particular, accounting for logical meanings in the language of Chinese is a continuing concern. The previous studies have taken a lexicogrammatical approach and described distinct features in terms of logical meaning in Chinese, which have caused difficulties in the analysis of logical meanings in Chinese. Against this background, this study departures from the stratum/level of lexicogrammar and sets out in the discourse semantics to introduce an alternative approach in Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) to analysing logical meanings in Chinese. This study will use as data from Chapter One of the Chinese novel Hong Lou Meng, and take an initial step in providing a relatively comprehensive account of logical meanings in Chinese according to the discourse semantic system of connexion. This description will explain how logical meanings in Chinese can be analysed through the dimensions of explicitness, type, and externality. It will also describe a distinct feature found to be relevant to the analysis through the three dimensions: indeterminacy of logical meanings in Chinese. It is hoped this approach can make some contributions to the field of discourse analysis so that analysts are equipped with useful linguistic tools in the discourse semantics when analysing logical meanings in Chinese.