缩略语是人们对已有语言的再创造、再加工,因此它应该符合人们的语言习惯和自然的节律属性。汉语中,双音节是韵律模型中的最佳单位,因此,人们在构造缩略语时,不管原式有几个音步,总是倾向于构造双音节音步,即使需要舍弃一些信息。单音节和三音节的出现条件是有限制的:单音节缩略语必须"组双"后才能出现,三音节缩略语则是在双音节不能满足表意要求下才出现,且有双音化的趋势;四音节构成复合韵律词,但不符合经济性原则,因此用例也较少。五音节以上为超复合韵律词,与四音节类似,也有悖经济性原则,用例较少。
Abbreviation is used to recreate the existing language, so it should meet the codes of language and natural rhythm property.In Chinese, disyllable is the best unit in the prosody model.So when people create abbreviation, they prefer dimeter regardless of the number of foot, even with some information missed.The creation of monosyllable and trisyllable is limited.The monosyllable can only appear after “doubled” while trisyllable can only appear when the disyllabic words cannot meet ideographic requirements, and trisyllabic words have tendency of bisyllablization.Quadrisyllable can form a composite prosodic word, but it does not meet economy principle, so quadrisyllable is rare.Ab-breviations with more than five syllables are called super-composite prosodic words, which are as rare as quadrisyllables.