Rong Chen Livres

The book provides an account of English inversion, a construction that displays perplexing idiosyncrasies at the level of semantics, phonology, syntax, and pragmatics. Basing his central argument on the claim that inversion is a linguistic representation of a Ground-before-Figure model, the author develops an elegant solution to a hitherto unsolved multidimensional linguistic puzzle and, in the process, supports the theoretical position that a cognitive approach best suits the multidimensionality of language itself. Engagingly written, the book will appeal to linguists of all persuasions and to any reader curious about the relationship between language and cognition.

Focusing on Chinese politeness, the book presents a comprehensive analysis and comparison with politeness across various linguacultures. It emphasizes the necessity for a universal theory of politeness, highlighting how cultural nuances shape interpersonal communication. Through this exploration, the author aims to bridge understanding between different cultural frameworks and enhance the study of politeness in a global context.

The book introduces a motivation model of pragmatics (MMP) that addresses the current skepticism towards deeper theoretical explorations in language studies. Rong Chen critiques the overemphasis on linguistic fluidity and proposes that understanding the motivations behind language use can provide a coherent framework for various contexts. This model is applied to diverse fields such as (im)politeness, cross-cultural communication, and identity construction. It aims to reconcile fluidity with stable concepts, making it a valuable resource for students across multiple disciplines.