“四方”研究百年

Studies of “Four Directions”in 1900-1999

百年(1900—1999)来学者们对“四方”(东、西、南、北)字源、词义、彼此组合构词的方式、语法功能都有所研究,只是当前要进一步拓展“四方”研究的视野,尤其是“四方”词义虚化的原因和途径、“四方”的句法功能、方言、少数民族语言、外族语言中“四方”表达方式的研究更需要加强,这些研究的加强将推动语言类型学和语言哲学的研究。

Concerning the four directions——east, west, north and south, studies have been made of their origins, meanings, modes of word formation with each other, functions of grammar, etc. Nevertheless, we believe that the vision of this research is to be broadened further and that the studies have to be particularly strengthened in such aspects as the reason why the referential, function is getting less and less, their grammatical functions, the ways how the words indicating the 4 directions are used in different dialects and the languages of China′s minority ethnic groups and other nations. The strengthening of those studies will give impetus to the studies of typology and linguistic philosophy.