基于COCA语料库的动词“Create”扩展意义单位研究

A Corpus-Based Study on the Extended Unit of Meaning of the Verb “Create” in COCA

摘要: 在二语习得蓬勃发展的背景下，语言学习已超越传统的形态句法层面，更加关注特定语境中语言的整体意义。随着语料库语言学的发展，研究者开始利用大规模语料库探究词汇的深层使用特征与语义表现。本研究基于美国当代英语语料库(COCA)，对动词“create”的扩展意义单位展开深入分析，重点考察其在不同语境中的搭配模式及语义韵特征，包括与形容词、副词、名词、介词的共现关系及其对语义倾向的影响。研究发现，虽然“create”通常被视为积极词汇，表示创造、发明或产生新事物，常与创新、想象力和生产力相关联，但在特定搭配中也可能呈现消极语义韵。例如当表达“制造问题”(creates a problem)或“引发混乱”(creates confusion)时，该动词往往带有负面含义。本研究不仅揭示了“create”在实际语用中的动态语义特征及语境依赖性，还为英语学习者提供了更为精细全面的词汇学习策略，即建议学习者在掌握词汇基本意义的同时，应关注其扩展意义单位，从而更准确地理解和使用目标词汇。

Abstract: Under the boom of second language acquisition, language learning has transcended the traditional levels of morphology and syntax, focusing more on the holistic meaning of language in specific contexts. With the development of corpus linguistics, researchers have begun to utilize large-scale corpora to explore the deep usage and semantic features of vocabulary. This study conducts an in-depth analysis of the extended meaning units of the verb “create” using the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA). The research focuses on the collocational patterns and semantic prosody of “create” in different contexts, examining its collocations with adjectives, adverbs, nouns, and prepositions, and how these collocations influence its semantic tendencies. The study finds that although the word “create” is generally considered a positive term, meaning to create, invent, or produce something new, often associated with innovation, imagination, and productivity, it can also carry negative connotations, especially when associated with negative outcomes. For example, if someone “creates a problem” or “creates confusion”, in such cases, “create” may be perceived as negative. This research not only reveals the semantic dynamics and context-dependency of “create” in actual language use but also provides English learners with more detailed and comprehensive vocabulary learning strategies. The study suggests that learners should pay attention to the extended meaning units of a word, in addition to mastering its basic meaning, to more accurately understand and use the vocabulary.