A Constructionalization Approach to Chinese Shang (上) and Xia (下) Spatial Metaphor

Yang Xu

School of International Studies, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.

DOI: 10.4236/chnstd.2015.43013                

Abstract

Language is subject to change over time. Diachronic construction grammar can provide adequate accounts for phenomena of language change. Constructionalization, as a kind of new approach, compasses and goes beyond both lexicalization and grammaticalization (Traugott, 2014). This paper reviews the main ideas of constructionalization and constructional changes, explores the expressions of Chinese spatial metaphor shang (上) and xia (下), and proposes that the sequence and schema of spatial metaphor is the main motivation of constructionalization of Chinese shang (上) and xia (下).

Keywords

Constructionalization, Spatial Metaphor, Shang (上) and Xia (下)

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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