Situation-bound utterances in Chinese

Abstract

This article argues that, when analysing formulaic language use in Chinese, besides the three main groups, proverbs (yànyu), idioms (chéngyu), and guànyòngyu compounds, we need to distinguish and pay special attention to a fourth category: situation-bound utterances (qíngjìng zhuanyòngyu). Situation-bound utterances (SBUs) constitute a unique group within idiomatic expressions because their use is tied to particular situations. SBUs fulfil social needs in conversation. People know that if they use these prefabricated expressions they are safe: nobody will misunderstand them because these phrases usually mean the same to most speakers in a speech community. The article aims to introduce SBUs as a separate category among Chinese formulaic expressions, discuss its relationship to yànyu, chéngyu, and guànyòngyu compounds, explain why it is important to handle it as a separate lexical category, and highlight the unique nature and use of SBUs. However, it is not the goal of the article to give a full and detailed description of the new category, which will need further research.

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