Ten cases of continuum in language

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Continuum is a one-dimensional pattern with a concise form and the significance of universality. "Prototype Theory" considers the members with the most common characteristics as the core members of one category, and all members of that category share some similar family features. Furthermore, quantum logic revised the classical logic law of "excluded middle" to the law of "included middle", which provides us with a new perspective in the linguistic study. Based on the above theories and ideas, this paper lists ten cases of continuum in language: 1) the continuum of language similarity; 2) the continuum of word and non-word in Chinese; 3) the continuum of animacy of words in language; 4) the continuum of communicative pressure; 5) the continuum of sentential focus; 6) the vowel-consonant continuum; 7) the continuum of phonation types; 8) the continuum of nasality of sounds; 9) the continuum of r-suffixation; 10) the continuum of words with neutral tone. Continuum is the renewal of academic concepts and research methods, which is of great significance to the synchronic and diachronic study of language.摘要:连续统是一维格局，具有更为简明的形式和更为普遍的意义。原型范畴理论把具有更多共同特征的成员定为中心成员，所有成员具有家族相似性。量子逻辑把经典逻辑的排中律修正为含中律，给我们以新的思维方式。本文列举语言中的十种连续统：1) 语言相似度连续统；2) 汉语词与非词连续统；3) 语词生命度连续统；4) 交际压力度连续统； 5) 语句焦点连续统；6) 元音-辅音连续统；7) 发声类型连续统；8) 语音鼻化连续统；9) 儿化韵连续统；10) 轻声字音连续统。连续统是学术观念和研究方法的更新，对于语言的共时和历时的研究都具有重要意义。