Comparative Constructions In Southern Min-- A Diachronic and Typological Perspective

• Main Authors: Chunchia Li, 李佳純
• Other Authors: Chinfa Lien
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 1994
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/04999190557047724036

碩士 === 國立清華大學 === 語言學系 === 82 === In this thesis we will study comparative constructions in Southern Min dialects from a diachronic and typological perspective. Saussure(1959) proposes that a language-state reflects historical evolution at a particular moment. Thus a grasp of the historical evolution of comparative constructions will shed light on their synchronic state. At first, we will examine the historical development of comparative constructions in Chinese. The earliest attested comparative construction is "A+P+yu/ru+B" which is later replaced by "A+bi(V)+B+P". The structure turns into a comparative construction through reanalysis, semantic narrowing and the change of comparative predicates. In Southern Min, the direction of change is from postverbal to preverbal construction. As for spoken lauguage, the postverbal construction scarcely used while the preverbal construction is the dominant. The comparative constructions in other dialects are our concern. Generally speaking, the constructions in dialects are the same, but the differences lie in distinct function words. In accordance with the evolution of comparative construction, the geographic distribution shows that comparative constructions in southern dialects are more conservative than northern dialects.