文章基本信息

标题：The Syntax and Cognitive Motivation of English It-Clefts
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作者：Kun Yang ; Xu Wen ; Zhengling Fu 等
期刊名称：International Journal of English Linguistics
印刷版ISSN：1923-869X
电子版ISSN：1923-8703
出版年度：2014
卷号：4
期号：5
页码：59
DOI：10.5539/ijel.v4n5p59
出版社：Canadian Center of Science and Education
摘要：English it-cleft is a constant topic in linguistic study. Previous work on it-clefts resided in their structural and
functional aspects and neglected their cognitive basis. This paper is an attempt to consider the form and function
of it-clefts within the framework of Cognitive Linguistics. Most previous studies of it-clefts have paid no
attention to the status of “it” and “copular be” which is generally believed to be dummy. Following the tenets of
Cognitive Linguistics, every form has its own meaning or function. This paper argues that the function of “it” as
a pronoun is relative to the cleft clause, which is modified by the clause. “Copular be” performs the function of
identifying in it-clefts. The paper then uses the concepts of Recency Effect, figure-ground and grounding theory
to account for the information distribution, cognitive motivation of it-clefts.