Title

Demonstratives in the Wanli Version of Lizhi Ji

Author

Han-chun Huang and Chinfa Lien

Genre

Article  

Pages

561-577

Download

PDF

Language

Chinese

Key words

Lizhi Ji, demonstrative, syllable simplification, semantic change, asymmetry

Abstract

  Based on the Wanli Version of Lizhi Ji “The Tale of the Litchi", a play written in Chaozhou and Quanzhou dialects in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, we provide a statistical analysis of the demonstratives, namely tsi⁵³ (只), hw⁵³ (許), tsĩõ²¹³ (障), and hĩõ²¹³ (向), the latter two being partially derived from the former two.

  Our focus is on the distribution and functions of these demonstratives. The semantic change from the basic use to place, time, manner, and degree will also be discussed.