This book offers a groundbreaking exploration of the dynamic interplay between decategorization and categorization, shedding new light on their pivotal roles in semantic expansion and syntactic restructuring. Through in-depth analysis of key linguistic phenomena, such as functional polysemy and the decategorization of nouns and verbs, it uncovers the generative mechanisms behind special constructions like the "adverb-noun" structure and verb-object compounds. The authors demonstrate not only the practicality but also the theoretical viability of using decategorization as an explanatory framework for functional polysemy. This innovative approach resolves longstanding complexities in empirical language data and opens up fresh pathways for advanced theoretical development. An essential resource for scholars and practitioners in language teaching and lexicography, this volume bridges cutting-edge research with real-world applications.

Zhenguang Liu is Chair Professor and former Dean of the School of Foreign Languages at Hunan University. His research specializations include Cognitive Linguistics, language acquisition, and foreign language teaching. Professor Liu has served as Principal Investigator for four projects funded by the National Social Science Fund of China, two of which are key projects. He is the author of several monographs, including "Linguistic Decategorization: An Integral Part of Linguistic Categorization," in which he proposed the theory of "linguistic decategorization." To date, he has published over 130 academic papers and edited volumes. In recognition of his scholarly contributions and teaching excellence, he has received top national honors, including the Second Prize of the National Social Science Research Award and the Second Prize of the National Teaching Achievement Award.

Yagang Wang is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Foreign Languages at Ningbo University. His current research focuses on cognitive semantics, grammaticalization and Construction Grammar. He has led multiple research initiatives, including a project funded by the Chinese Ministry of Education, and recently authored Decoding Meaning: A Brief Journey into the World of Semantics (2026). He was also awarded Second Prize in the 2023 FLTRP Cup National "Star of Foreign Language Teaching" Competition.