方位词“上”的多义空间关系研究——基于“静态居上”意象图式视角

A Study on the Polysemous Spatial Relationships of the Directional Term “Up”—From the Perspective of the “Static Supremacy” Imagery Schema

摘要: 本文重点考察方位词“上”在表达“静态居上”这一空间关系时所出现的多义现象，通过对不同参照物与目标物之间空间关系的系统梳理与分类分析，揭示了“上”产生多义的内在认知机制。一般将目标物分为两类：一类是“(几乎)无厚度、可凭附”的物体，另一类是“具有一定厚度、可放置”的物体；参照物可以分为横向平面、纵向平面与立体物体三类。在此基础上，本文归纳了“接触图式”(目标物与参照物相接触)与“分离图式”(目标物位于参照物上方但不接触)在不同组合中的分布规律。研究表明，“上”的多义并非偶然，而是由参照物的形态特征、目标物的属性以及意象图式的认知优先性共同作用的结果。其中，参照物的形态为方位词“上”的空间关系设定初始背景，目标物属性(尤其是是否直接受重力制约)是决定选择“接触”还是“分离”图式的关键因素，而“接触图式”由于与日常人类经验紧密相连，具有更强的原型性，构成了“上”语义网络的核心。

Abstract: This paper focuses on examining the polysemy of the locative adverb “Up” when expressing the spatial relationship of “Static-on-the-top”. Through systematic classification and analysis of spatial relationships between different reference points and target objects, it reveals the underlying cognitive mechanisms generating this polysemy. Objects are generally categorized into two types: those that are “(nearly) flat and can be attached to” and those that have “a certain thickness and can be placed on”. Reference points can be divided into three categories: horizontal planes, vertical planes, and three-dimensional objects. Building on this foundation, this paper summarizes the distribution patterns of the “contact schema” (where the target object touches the reference object) and the “separation schema” (where the target object is positioned above the reference object without contact) across different combinations. The research indicates that the polysemy of “Up” is not accidental but results from the combined effects of the morphological characteristics of the reference object, the attributes of the target object, and the cognitive priority of the imagery schema. Specifically, the referent’s form establishes the initial spatial context for the directional term “above”, while the target object’s properties (particularly whether it is directly subject to gravity) determine whether the “contact” or “separation” schema is selected. The “contact schema”, being closely tied to everyday human experience, possesses stronger prototypicality and forms the core of the semantic network for “Up”.