The pragmatic meanings conveyed by function words in Chinese sentences: An ERP study

Abstract In the study, we aimed to investigate the cognitive processing of the Chinese sentences utilizing the function words “CAI” or “JIU” through ERP methods, and to provide further evidence to the theory of function word in Chinese linguistics. In the experiment, we constructed four types of materials (Type 1–Type 4): simple sentences, complex sentences without numerals, complex sentences with numerals and sentences with fixed expressions. There were corresponding correct and incorrect sentences in each type. It was observed that the incorrect sentences of the first two types elicited significant N400 and P600 effects, and the complex syntactic structures in the second type made their amplitudes larger. This result suggests that “CAI” and “JIU” can constrain sentence meanings within certain boundaries, and the contrast between the preset context and actual context can be further distinguished when the preset context is described explicitly. The unexpected “CAI” or “JIU” in the sentences in Type 3 elicited a larger P3b as compared with the expected ones. This indicates that the relationship between the preset and actual contexts in quantity is constrained and such a constraint is further converted to the direct quantitative comparison between the numerals. Moreover, the widely distributed and sustaining CPS (closure positive shift) evoked by the violations of fixed expressions denotes that the fixed prosodic boundaries are broken. These results suggest that in certain conditions, the function words “CAI” and “JIU” can also convey pragmatic meanings beyond their syntactic functions. It further confirms the theory of function word in Chinese linguistics.