| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立清華大學 === 語言學研究所 === 89 === rGyalrong belongs to the Qiangic group of Tibeto-Burman languages. Zhoukeji rGyalrong is a little better studied variety. Based on the rGyalrongic studies of Mr. Xiang-Rong Lin and the researches on Caodeng rGyalrong of Prof. J. T.-S. Sun, this thesis studies the usage of the verbal prefix k@-(@=schwa) and ka- in Zhoukeji rGyalrong. It is found that these two prefixes exhibit opposition in two ways. Lexically, in the citation forms, verbs are prefixed either by k@-(@=schwa)or by ka-. Those prefixed by k@-(@=schwa) denote a kind of doing by a non-human participant, while those prefixed by ka- denote a kind of doing by a human participant. Grammatically, the prefix k@-(@=schwa) is a nominalizer, while the prefix ka- is an infinitive marker. An infinitive can serve as the complement to predicates like be able to, know how to, dare to, and begin, like etc. The prefix k@-(@=schwa) can derive deverbal nouns that indicate the action or participant denoted by the verb. Nominalization can serve as the complement to predicates like see, or know, etc. Nominalization in Zhoukeji rGyalrong can also express meaning similar to the relativization in English. The nominalizer k@-(@=schwa) can merge with the verbal prefix nga-, a valency-decreasing device, in the form of ka-. This nominalizer ka- and the infinitive marker ka- are very different. They have different distribution and verbal morphology. An infinitive can be the complement of be able to, begin, and like, etc, and it takes no prefixes except ka-. A nominalized verb can be the complement of see, and know, etc. and may take an orientation prefix in the perfective situations. The nominalizer ka- and the valency-decreasing nga- are similar, and both prohibit the occurrence of an agent argument. The structural aspect of the prefix k@-(@=schwa) and ka- are studied in details here, and this might be important to the understanding of the rGyalrongic grammar.
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