Abstract:

aking a cognitive-pragmatic approach, this paper focuses on the contextual constraints on the metonymic thinking of "What’s X doing Y?" construction. First, we explore the conditions for the conventional metonymic thinking of "What’s X doing Y?" construction. It is argued that the construction involves no metonymic thinking in cases where the speaker only wants to get information. Secondly, we discuss under what circumstances the metonymic thinking of the construction will involve either two domains or three domains. Even if the speaker uses the construction to show metonymically his dissatisfaction, so long as the speaker only talks to himself or just speaks out of surprise, then the metonymic thinking will only involve two domains. If the speaker indirectly asks the person beside him to stop the action as expressed by the construction, then the metonymy in the construction will involve three domains. Thirdly, we discuss the different functions of the verb "doing" in different contexts. Finally, we draw attention to the difference between specific conversational context and conventional context.