Abstract:

Zero-verbal Existential Construction is a special type of Chinese Existential Construction. This paper classifies Zero-verbal Existential Construction through the semantic relations between NP_Land NP in space and explores the syntactic and semantic features of Zero-verbal Existential Construction. Specifically, Zero-verbal Existential Construction is usually formed as ‘NP_LNP’ structure and it mainly includes three types: partially-occupied ‘NP_LNP,’ fully-quantitative ‘NP_LNP’ and all-around ‘NP_LNP.’ Extreme spatiality, which is reflected in the spatiality of the scene of ‘existence’ encoded by the constructional constituents of ‘NP_LNP’ structure, is the most prominent semantic feature of Zero-verbal Existential Construction. Within the framework of cognitive linguistics, this paper claims that Zero-verbal Existential Construction conforms to the principle of cognitive economy, and it is a construction based on ‘Container Schema’ and expressing the scene of ‘existence’ through the grounded quantitative structure. Due to the high degree of spatiality in Chinese and Zero-verbal Existential Construction, ‘NP_LNP’ structure expressing the scene of ‘existence’ is not allowed in many other languages.

Key words:Zero-verbal Existential Construction,syntactic and semantic features,spatiality,cognitive interpretation