A Study on the Context ― Dependent ‘NP₁+shi+NP₂’ in Modern Chinese

This paper defines the context-dependent ‘NP₁+shi+NP₂’ sentences and establishes its scope. A context-dependent ‘NP₁+shi+NP₂’ refers to sentences in the ‘NP₁+shi+NP₂’ structure where the semantic relationship between NP₁ and NP₂ is non-logical, and meaning interpretation is only possible within a pragmatic linguistic environment. Although NP₁ and NP₂ belong to different semantic categories, the listener cognitively extends the meaning referred to by NP₁ through the discourse context to relate it to NP₂. This constitutes a crucial mechanism whereby the semantic relatedness in context-dependent ‘NP₁+shi+NP₂’ transitions from ‘illogical’ to ‘logical’. However, given that the context-dependent ‘NP₁+shi+NP₂’ remains difficult for many native speakers to accept, this paper focuses on the possibility that the usage of ‘shi’ within such questions is undergoing a transitional phase. It further discusses two potential functions of ‘shi’: as a substitute and as a topic marker.