The Introduction and Application of the Markedness Theory

This paper represents a survey of the introduction and application of the theory of markedness in the research of Chinese grammar from 1990’s. Firstly, it reviews the introduction of the Markedness Theory, including the process of development, the criteria of markedness and the motivations of the markedness pattern. Then, it makes a thorough analysis of the domestics scholars’ studies on the markedness phenomena in Chinese grammar from 6 aspects, which are antonym, adjective, affirmative-negative category, syntactic construction, pragmatic categories and the relationship among syntax, semantics and pragmatics.