In writing Chinese Semantics this time, the author did not focus on what the introduction should keep, but focused on supplementing the introduction as much as possible, revising it repeatedly, and then making some attempts. These efforts are embodied in the author's attempt to make some preparations for the establishment of Chinese semantics. Since the author began to study modern semantics, he has been trying to combine the theories and methods of semantics with Chinese. This point has been shown in Introduction to Semantics, but it is not enough in that book, and it is still very shallow. In writing this book, the author has made efforts and attempts in the following aspects:
First, the basic point of combining foreign modern semantics with Chinese is to combine the theories and methods of modern semantics with Chinese semantic materials and practices. Here, it is particularly important to combine the research of Chinese information processing. Because Chinese information processing can't wait for foreign achievements, the author must solve the problem of Chinese semantics by himself. It needs the latest theories and methods of semantics, not only for reference, but also for innovation. It has carried out a large-scale rigorous test on the related semantic research results. In recent years, the author has participated in the scientific research of Chinese information processing and gained a lot of preliminary experience. After finishing, the authors all wrote in the book.
Second, the study of modern semantics should not cut off history, but should strive to absorb nutrition from traditional semantics and exegetics. Although traditional semantics also originated from abroad, scholars in the author's country have long used it to study Chinese. This time, the author pays attention to absorbing more achievements in this field. As for exegetics, it is a great advantage of the author. The author doesn't know much about exegetics, but he attaches great importance to the treasure house of exegetics in his country. This book pays great attention to absorbing nutrition from this aspect.
Thirdly, at present, foreign scholars' research on modern semantics is limited to the description of modern languages, which is reasonable when modern semantics is still immature. The author's book focuses on modern Chinese. However, modern Chinese semantics is a continuation of ancient Chinese semantics, and modern Chinese semantics itself is constantly evolving. So this book is also related to ancient Chinese, the semantic evolution of speaking Chinese. The theories and methods of modern semantics should be applied not only to the diachronic study of language, but also to the historical study, and be re-tested and enriched in the diachronic study.
Fourthly, to achieve the above three points, it is impossible to rely solely on the existing theories and methods of modern semantics abroad. At this time, the author always puts forward his own views and methods very cautiously. The author bases his views and methods on as many Chinese materials as possible.
Although the author has made efforts in the above four aspects, it is far from saying that this book combines modern semantics with Chinese. The establishment of Chinese semantics is not the author's own, let alone the author's current level. This requires the long-term efforts of all people engaged in semantic research in China, including overseas colleagues engaged in Chinese semantic research.
In order to write this book, the author consulted and referred to many related works, papers and reference books at home and abroad. I absorbed a lot of ideas, opinions and materials from it. In some academic activities and scientific research activities, the author has received enthusiastic help from many experts and colleagues in linguistics and information processing, and benefited a lot from their inspiration. Although the authors can't list them all here, I still want to express my heartfelt thanks to them. My classmates, graduate students and senior teachers in my teaching have all mentioned some semantic phenomena and viewpoints that are very enlightening to me, and I would like to express my gratitude here. The author is very grateful to Mr. Xing Gongwan for his guidance and encouragement in the study of Chinese semantics, and to Mr. Chen Liwei and Mr. Dong Zhendong for their guidance and help in the scientific research of information processing. The author would also like to thank Professor Ye Feisheng for his concern and encouragement in writing this book from beginning to end. Thank him for carefully reviewing all the manuscripts and writing the preface. Thank Professor Tang Zuofan for carefully reviewing the manuscript of Chapter 13. It is not easy to publish a textbook and academic works now. The author would like to express his deep gratitude to Peking University Publishing House and Comrade Liang Huiling, the editor in charge of this book. It is their efforts that make this book available to readers.
As early as the second half of 1986. The author began to do some preparatory work for writing a book. 1988165438+10 started writing in early October and finished writing in September 1990. After that, it was revised and supplemented many times, and the final draft was completed in June of 199 1. The content of this book has been tried twice by the author as a handout for Chinese majors in the Chinese Department of Peking University, once for graduate students of 1988 and once for undergraduates of 1990.
Modern semantics is a new discipline, which changes rapidly and covers a wide range. The author's level is limited, there must be omissions, inappropriateness and mistakes in the book, and he is eager for readers' criticism and guidance.
This book is called Chinese Semantics. As a teaching material, its nature and direction are Chinese semantics, not from its level.