7. Distance Iconicity. 7.0 Introduction Major topics to be covered in this section Major topics to be covered in this section (1) Multiple-modifier

7. Distance Iconicity7. Distance Iconicity

7.0 Introduction7.0 Introduction

Major topics to be covered in this sectionMajor topics to be covered in this section (1) Multiple-modifier constructions and (1) Multiple-modifier constructions and

their conceptual relevancetheir conceptual relevance張三的妹妹張三的妹妹 / / 漂亮的妹妹漂亮的妹妹張三的漂亮的妹妹張三的漂亮的妹妹 ** 漂亮的張三的妹妹漂亮的張三的妹妹白色木頭桌子白色木頭桌子 / */ * 木頭白色桌子木頭白色桌子

(2) The language universal with regard to (2) The language universal with regard to the relative word orders of “D, Q, A, N”the relative word orders of “D, Q, A, N”

7.1. Linguistic Distance and Conceptual Distance7.1. Linguistic Distance and Conceptual Distance

The linguistic distance The linguistic distance The linguistic distance between two expressions The linguistic distance between two expressions

would be equivalent to the time interval between would be equivalent to the time interval between

themthem.. Diminishing linguistic distance between X and YDiminishing linguistic distance between X and Y

• a. X A B Ya. X A B Y

• b. X A Yb. X A Y

• c. X Y c. X Y 張三的漂亮的妹妹張三的漂亮的妹妹 ((X A Y)X A Y) ** 漂亮的張三的妹妹漂亮的張三的妹妹 ((A X Y) A X Y)


• (1) (1) 我我的的眼鏡眼鏡 ((A: A: 我我 ; ; B: B: 眼鏡眼鏡 ) ) • (2) (2) 我我妹妹妹妹 ((A: A: 我我 ; ; B: B: 妹妹妹妹 ) ) • (3) (3) mymy sistersister (A: my; B: sister) (A: my; B: sister)• (4) (4) elderelder sistersister (A: elder; B: sister) (A: elder; B: sister) • (5) (5) mymy sistersister (A: my; B: sister)(A: my; B: sister)• (6) [the] (6) [the] studentstudent’s ’s sistersister (A: student; B: sister) (A: student; B: sister)

The conceptual distance The conceptual distance Two ideas are conceptually close to the extent that theyTwo ideas are conceptually close to the extent that they a. share semantic features, properties or parts;a. share semantic features, properties or parts; b. affect each other;b. affect each other; c. are factually inseparable;c. are factually inseparable; d. are perceived as a unit, whether factually inseparable d. are perceived as a unit, whether factually inseparable

or not.or not. e. have a permanent, or a stable relationshipe. have a permanent, or a stable relationship


(7) (7) mymy bookbook (A: my; B: books; A~B: Possession) (A: my; B: books; A~B: Possession) (8) [an] (8) [an] EnglishEnglish bookbook (A: English; B: books; A~B: Attribution) (A: English; B: books; A~B: Attribution)

The conceptual distance between the possessor and The conceptual distance between the possessor and the possessed is greater than that between the the possessed is greater than that between the attribute and the concept. In other words, attribution attribute and the concept. In other words, attribution is a conceptually closer relation than possession. is a conceptually closer relation than possession.

[1] Possession [1] Possession [2] Attribution[2] Attribution LD CDLD CD mymy bookbook referencereference bookbook = >= > youryour handshands smallsmall handshands = >= > JohnJohn’s ’s carcar sportssports carcar > > > > JohnJohn’s ’s friendsfriends goodgood friendsfriends > > > > [a] [a] friendfriend of of JohnJohn’s’s oldold friendfriend > > > >


yesterday’s newsyesterday’s news bad newsbad news >> >> cover of the bookcover of the book book coverbook cover >> >> The meaning of possessionThe meaning of possession [1] Possession [1] Possession [2] Attribution[2] Attribution LD CDLD CD JohnJohn’s ’s carcar sportssports carcar > > > > JohnJohn’s ’s friendsfriends goodgood friendsfriends > >> > [a] [a] friendfriend of of JohnJohn’s’s oldold friendfriend > >> > The typical form to express “possession” in English The typical form to express “possession” in English

is “A’s B” or “B of A” is “A’s B” or “B of A” The tendencyThe tendency The linguistic distance between the elements in [1] The linguistic distance between the elements in [1]

and [2] normally corresponds to the conceptual and [2] normally corresponds to the conceptual distance between them. distance between them.


[1] Possession[1] Possession [2] Attribution[2] Attribution 中國的朋友中國的朋友 ((China's friends) China's friends) 中國朋友中國朋友 ((Chinese friends)Chinese friends) 孩子的脾氣孩子的脾氣 ((child's disposition)child's disposition) 孩子脾氣孩子脾氣 ((childishness)childishness) 狐狸的尾巴狐狸的尾巴 ((fox's tail)fox's tail) 狐狸尾巴狐狸尾巴 ((cloven hoof)cloven hoof) 咖啡的味兒咖啡的味兒 ((smell of coffee)smell of coffee) 咖啡味兒咖啡味兒 ((coffee-like coffee-like

smell) smell) [1] Possession[1] Possession [2] Attribution[2] Attribution LD CDLD CD 我我的的書書工具工具書書 >> >> 你你的的手手小小手手 >> >> 張三張三的的車車跑跑車車 >> >> 張三張三的的朋友朋友好好朋友朋友 >> >> 昨天昨天的的新聞新聞壞壞消息消息 >> >>

The linguistic and conceptual distance between the modifier The linguistic and conceptual distance between the modifier and the head noun with an intermediate and the head noun with an intermediate 的的 is greater than is greater than without the intermediate without the intermediate 的的 . .


If a language has two near-synonymous (If a language has two near-synonymous ( 近義近義 ) ) constructions which differ structurally in linguistic constructions which differ structurally in linguistic distance, they will differ semantically in (among distance, they will differ semantically in (among other things) conceptual distance in a parallel other things) conceptual distance in a parallel fashion. fashion.

張三的漂亮的妹妹張三的漂亮的妹妹 , , ** 漂亮的張三的妹妹漂亮的張三的妹妹 The ordering of constituents of a noun phrase tends The ordering of constituents of a noun phrase tends

to correspond to conceptual structure. to correspond to conceptual structure. John’s beautiful sister.John’s beautiful sister. ( ( 張三的漂亮的妹妹張三的漂亮的妹妹 )) my best friend / the best friend of minemy best friend / the best friend of mine ( ( 我的最好我的最好

的朋友的朋友 )) **beautiful John’s sisterbeautiful John’s sister (* (* 漂亮的張三的妹妹漂亮的張三的妹妹 )) **the best my friendthe best my friend (* (* 最好的我的朋友最好的我的朋友 ) )


Two Semantic Types of Nominal ModifiersTwo Semantic Types of Nominal Modifiers 1.1. Characterization Characterization

• explicating the properties of a concept (what kind explicating the properties of a concept (what kind of…)of…)

2. 2. SpecificationSpecification• identifying reference (which one …) identifying reference (which one …)

[1] Specification[1] Specification [2] Characterization[2] Characterization LD CDLD CD• 我我的的書書工具工具書書 > >> >

• 那個那個人人好好人人 = >= >

• 三個三個人人香港香港人人 = >= >

• (Determiner + Classifier) / (Numeral + Classifier)(Determiner + Classifier) / (Numeral + Classifier)

CDCDA~BA~B [Specification] > CD [Specification] > CD

A~BA~B [Characterization] [Characterization]


Within the category of specificationWithin the category of specification … … … … Possession [1]Possession [1] Possession [2]Possession [2] LD LD CD CD 我我的的手表手表我我的的爸爸爸爸 == > > 我我的的手表手表 )) (* (* 我手表我手表 )) 我我爸爸爸爸 >> > > Alienable Inalienable = > >Alienable Inalienable = > > Within the category of characterizationWithin the category of characterization … … … … Adjective + HeadAdjective + Head Noun + HeadNoun + Head LD LD CDCD 好好人人香港香港人人 == >> 壞壞書書英文英文書書 == >> 大大房子房子木頭木頭房子房子 == >> 小小茶壺茶壺瓷瓷茶壺茶壺 == >> 用功用功的的學生學生生物系生物系的的學生學生 == >> ** 用功用功學生學生生物系生物系學生學生 >> > > CDCDA~BA~B [A: adjective] > CD [A: adjective] > CDA~BA~B [A: noun] [A: noun]


Within the adjective categoryWithin the adjective category … … … … Adj [Dimension]Adj [Dimension] Adj [Color]Adj [Color] LDLD CDCD 大大房子房子白白房子房子 == >> 小小皮鞋皮鞋黑黑皮鞋皮鞋 == > >

CDCDA~BA~B [A: dimension adj.] > CD [A: dimension adj.] > CDA~BA~B [A: color adj.] [A: color adj.]

Adj [Age]Adj [Age] Adj [Dimension]Adj [Dimension] LDLD CDCD 新新房子房子大大房子房子 == > > 新新書包書包大大書包書包 == >>

CDCDA~BA~B [A: age adj.] > CD [A: age adj.] > CDA~BA~B [A: dimension adj.] [A: dimension adj.]


Adj [Value]Adj [Value] Adj [Age]Adj [Age] LDLD CDCD 壞壞書書新新書書 ==

>> 美麗美麗的的姑娘姑娘年輕年輕的的姑娘姑娘 == >> 貴重貴重的的衣服衣服舊舊衣服衣服 >> >> 有趣有趣的的故事故事老老故事故事 >> > >

CDCDA~BA~B [A: value adj.] > CD [A: value adj.] > CDA~BA~B [A: age adj.] [A: age adj.]

Adj [Complex]Adj [Complex] Adj [Simple]Adj [Simple] LDLD CDCD 大大大大的的眼睛眼睛大大眼睛眼睛 >> >> 乾乾淨淨乾乾淨淨的的衣服衣服乾淨乾淨衣服衣服 >> >> 髒兮兮髒兮兮的的衣服衣服髒髒衣服衣服 >> > >

CDCDA~BA~B [A: complex adj.] > CD [A: complex adj.] > CDA~BA~B [A: simple adj.] [A: simple adj.]


Conceptual Distance HierarchyConceptual Distance Hierarchy CD [ACD [A 的的 B] > CD[AB]B] > CD[AB] Specification > Characterization Specification > Characterization

Complex adjectives > Simple adjectives Complex adjectives > Simple adjectives

Value > Age > Dimension > ColorValue > Age > Dimension > Color

> nouns> nouns

7.2. Relative Order of Pre-nominal Modifiers7.2. Relative Order of Pre-nominal Modifiers

two examples of multiple-modifier constructionstwo examples of multiple-modifier constructions 我我的的十個十個漂亮漂亮的的紅紅木木球球所有所有這這十位十位漂亮漂亮的的年輕年輕美國孩子美國孩子的的二十個二十個小小小小的的舊舊瓷瓷

娃娃娃娃 (see “huma300k-01.ppt”, Slide 12)(see “huma300k-01.ppt”, Slide 12)

a semantic-syntactic classification of modifiers a semantic-syntactic classification of modifiers A. Specification:A. Specification:

A1. Possessor (Noun, Pronoun):A1. Possessor (Noun, Pronoun): 張三的、我的張三的、我的 A2. Det (Numeral) Classifier:A2. Det (Numeral) Classifier: 那個、這本、一個、三條那個、這本、一個、三條

B. Characterization:B. Characterization: B1. Complex adjectives (less stable properties):B1. Complex adjectives (less stable properties): 髒兮兮髒兮兮

的、雪白的、紅紅的的、雪白的、紅紅的 … …… … B2. Simple adjectives (more stable properties):B2. Simple adjectives (more stable properties): 髒、白、髒、白、

紅、好、乾淨紅、好、乾淨 … …… …


• B21. Value:B21. Value: 好、壞、漂亮、乾淨好、壞、漂亮、乾淨• B22. Age:B22. Age: 新、舊、老新、舊、老• B23. Dimension: B23. Dimension: 大、小、長、短、厚、薄大、小、長、短、厚、薄• B24. Color:B24. Color: 紅、白紅、白

B3. Noun (Material, Source, Function etc): B3. Noun (Material, Source, Function etc): 木頭、中國、數木頭、中國、數學、英文學、英文

The rules for multiple modifier constructions in The rules for multiple modifier constructions in ChineseChinese

新新的的大大房子房子 ** 大大新新的房子的房子 ** 新新大大房子房子大大新新房子房子 (exceptional case)(exceptional case) ((a) big new house a) big new house 瓷瓷的的小小茶壺茶壺 ** 小小瓷瓷的茶壺的茶壺 ** 瓷瓷小小茶壺茶壺小小瓷瓷茶壺茶壺 ((a) small porcelain teapot a) small porcelain teapot


乾淨乾淨的的羊皮羊皮大衣大衣 ** 羊皮羊皮乾淨乾淨的大衣的大衣 ((a) clean sheepskin overcoat a) clean sheepskin overcoat

Rule 1: Modifiers with Rule 1: Modifiers with 的的 generally precede those generally precede those without without 的的 . .

他他最大最大的孩子的孩子 ** 最大最大的的他他孩子孩子他他的的最大最大的孩子的孩子 ** 最大最大的的他他的孩子的孩子 his eldest childhis eldest child 張三張三漂亮漂亮的妹妹的妹妹 ** 漂亮漂亮的的張三張三妹妹妹妹張三張三的的漂亮漂亮的妹妹的妹妹 ** 漂亮漂亮的的張三張三的妹妹的妹妹 John’s pretty sister / (the) pretty sister of John John’s pretty sister / (the) pretty sister of John

Rule 2: Possessive modifiers, with or without Rule 2: Possessive modifiers, with or without 的的 , , are are always placed before all other modifiers. always placed before all other modifiers.


我我那本那本新新英文英文書書 that new grammar book of minethat new grammar book of mine 我們學校我們學校那位那位老老數學數學教師教師 that old math teacher of our schoolthat old math teacher of our school 張三張三那一件那一件漂亮漂亮絲綢絲綢襯衫襯衫 that piece of beautiful silk shirt of John that piece of beautiful silk shirt of John

Rule 3: The basic order of modifiers without Rule 3: The basic order of modifiers without 的的 is as is as follows:follows:

POSS + DET/NUM-CL + Adj + NPOSS + DET/NUM-CL + Adj + N

A1 + A2 + B2 + B3 A1 + A2 + B2 + B3 乾乾淨淨乾乾淨淨的的新新書桌書桌 ((a) clean new desk a) clean new desk


髒兮兮髒兮兮的的小小手手 dirty small handsdirty small hands 有趣有趣的的厚厚故事故事書書 ((an) interesting thick story bookan) interesting thick story book 嶄新嶄新的的木頭木頭家具家具 brand-new wooden furniturebrand-new wooden furniture 白色白色長袖長袖尼龍尼龍襯衫襯衫 (a) white long-sleeved nylon shirt(a) white long-sleeved nylon shirt 新新小小白白木木床床 ((a) small new white wooden bed a) small new white wooden bed

Rule 4: If there are more than one adjectival and/or Rule 4: If there are more than one adjectival and/or nominal modifiers, the normal order isnominal modifiers, the normal order is

B1 + B2 [B21+B22+B23+B24] + B3 B1 + B2 [B21+B22+B23+B24] + B3

A1 A2 B1 B21 B22 B23 B24 A1 A2 B1 B21 B22 B23 B24 N N


7.3. The Less Informative First Principle7.3. The Less Informative First Principle

The Less Informative First Principle:The Less Informative First Principle: In a complex noun phrase with multiple pre-nominal In a complex noun phrase with multiple pre-nominal

modifiers, those carrying smaller amount of modifiers, those carrying smaller amount of information should occur first.information should occur first.

““Information is a measure of one’s freedom of Information is a measure of one’s freedom of choice when one selects a message.”choice when one selects a message.”

The amount of information is determined by the The amount of information is determined by the number of possible messages.number of possible messages.

““The actual message is one selected from a set of The actual message is one selected from a set of possible messages.” (C. Shannon)possible messages.” (C. Shannon)

• REA_ REA_

• EXI_EXI_


Size > Color > MaterialSize > Color > Material

sizesize colorcolor materialmaterial Head nounHead noun

大大小小小小

紅紅黑黑

黃黃黃黃白白紅紅黑黑白白綠綠藍藍

鐵鐵木木鋁鋁銅銅鉛鉛鋼鋼銅銅石石塑料塑料木木玻璃玻璃水晶水晶水泥水泥… …… …

球球塔塔盆兒盆兒…………

…………


Within the category of “size” -- Within the category of “size” -- (1) (1) 大高樓～大高樓～ ** 高大樓高大樓 (2) (2) 小矮個兒～小矮個兒～ ** 矮小個兒矮小個兒 (3) (3) 大粗繩～大粗繩～ ** 粗大繩粗大繩 (4) (4) 小瘦猴兒～小瘦猴兒～ ** 瘦小猴兒瘦小猴兒 (5) (5) 大寬馬路～大寬馬路～ ** 寬大馬路寬大馬路 (6) (6) 小窄胡同～小窄胡同～ ** 窄小胡同窄小胡同 (7) (7) 大壯小夥子～大壯小夥子～ ** 壯大小夥子壯大小夥子 (8) (8) 小細胳膊腿～小細胳膊腿～ ** 細小胳膊腿細小胳膊腿


The LIFP only applies to modifiers within the The LIFP only applies to modifiers within the “Characterization” type“Characterization” type

The amount of information is measured by The amount of information is measured by the number the number of contrasting itemsof contrasting items

Polar opposition: Polar opposition: 大、小大、小 Dimension opposition: Dimension opposition: 高、矮、胖、瘦、寬、窄、高、矮、胖、瘦、寬、窄、

粗、細、深、淺、長、短粗、細、深、淺、長、短………… (9) *(9) * 長寬馬路～長寬馬路～ ** 寬長馬路寬長馬路 (10) *(10) * 長的寬的馬路～長的寬的馬路～ ** 寬的長的馬路寬的長的馬路 (11) *(11) * 長的寬馬路～長的寬馬路～ ** 寬的長馬路寬的長馬路 (12) (12) 又長又寬的馬路～又寬又長的馬路又長又寬的馬路～又寬又長的馬路


Dimension / PolarDimension / Polar 大大小小

Upward lengthUpward length 高高矮矮 / / 低低

Downward lengthDownward length 深深淺淺

Between two pointsBetween two points 長長短短

Horizontal spanHorizontal span 寬寬窄窄

Physical strengthPhysical strength 強強 / / 壯壯弱弱

Quantity of fatQuantity of fat 胖胖 / / 肥肥瘦瘦

Transect areaTransect area 粗粗細細

………… ………… …………


When there is no significant difference between A and When there is no significant difference between A and B in the number of contrasting items, the order may be B in the number of contrasting items, the order may be legitimately reversed. legitimately reversed.

(13) (13) 單人圓頂蚊帳～圓頂單人蚊帳單人圓頂蚊帳～圓頂單人蚊帳 (14) (14) 快速燃氣熱水器～燃氣快速熱水器快速燃氣熱水器～燃氣快速熱水器 (15) (15) 大型彩色紀錄片～彩色大型紀錄片大型彩色紀錄片～彩色大型紀錄片

The word order of modifiers with The word order of modifiers with 的的 is relatively more is relatively more flexible than the order of those without flexible than the order of those without 的的 ..

(16) (16) 長方形的紅木的桌子～紅木的長方形的桌子長方形的紅木的桌子～紅木的長方形的桌子 (17) (17) 新做的翠綠色的旗袍～翠綠色的新做的旗袍新做的翠綠色的旗袍～翠綠色的新做的旗袍 (18) (18) 很年輕的研究甲骨文的學者～研究甲骨文的很年輕的很年輕的研究甲骨文的學者～研究甲骨文的很年輕的

學者學者 (19) (19) 穿著破衣服的十分可憐的孩子～十分可憐的穿著破衣穿著破衣服的十分可憐的孩子～十分可憐的穿著破衣

服的孩子服的孩子 (20) (20) 會講話的能使用工具的動物～能使用工具的會講話的會講話的能使用工具的動物～能使用工具的會講話的

動物動物


Nevertheless ---Nevertheless --- (21) (21) 少有的最好的情形～少有的最好的情形～ ** 最好的少有的情形最好的少有的情形

• 少有少有 -- 常見；最好常見；最好 -- 較好較好 -- 很好很好 -- 極好極好 (22) (22) 說不出的痛苦的味道～說不出的痛苦的味道～ ** 痛苦的說不出的味道痛苦的說不出的味道

• 說不出說不出 -- 說得出；痛苦說得出；痛苦 -- 幸福幸福 -- 不幸不幸 -- 焦慮焦慮 -- 浮躁浮躁 -- 興興奮奮… …

(23) (23) 去年剛來的學語言學的研究生～去年剛來的學語言學的研究生～ ** 學語言學的去年剛學語言學的去年剛來的研究生來的研究生

• 去年剛來去年剛來 -- 今年剛來；學語言學今年剛來；學語言學 -- 哲學哲學 -- 化學化學 -- 生物生物學學……

(24) (24) 老舍寫的敍述一個洋車夫的一生的小說～老舍寫的敍述一個洋車夫的一生的小說～ ** 敍述一個敍述一個洋車夫的一生的老舍寫的小說洋車夫的一生的老舍寫的小說

• 老舍寫的老舍寫的 -- 金庸寫的金庸寫的 -- 魯迅寫的魯迅寫的…… ..

• 敘述一個洋車夫敘述一個洋車夫 -- 農民農民 -- 工人工人 -- 國王國王 -- 公主公主 -- 俠客俠客 ……


Why LIFP? Why LIFP? Language as a cognitive process (Terry Winograd)Language as a cognitive process (Terry Winograd) Speaking and listening as encoding and decodingSpeaking and listening as encoding and decoding Messages carrying less information are easier to processMessages carrying less information are easier to process.. LIFP: translatable into “Easier First!”LIFP: translatable into “Easier First!” A common cognitive strategyA common cognitive strategy Head – problem space; search along certain pathsHead – problem space; search along certain paths Depth-first vs. Breadth-first (See “Misc 1”)Depth-first vs. Breadth-first (See “Misc 1”)

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7. Distance Iconicity. 7.0 Introduction Major topics to be covered in this section Major topics to be covered in this section (1) Multiple-modifier