试论程度副词“老大”的来源

On the Adverb Laoda

程度副词'老大'是由经常出现在状语位置上的意义为'年纪大'的复合形容词'老大'语法化而来的.'老'和'大'早已具有的副词用法对程度副词'老大'的形成具有一定的影响作用.意义为'年纪大'的'老大'经常用于表示悲伤、哀愁等消极、否定态度的语境中,受此影响,程度副词'老大'只用于表示消极意义的谓词或否定结构之前.

The adverb Laoda （老大）comes from the grammaticalization of the compound adjective Laoda, which means “old”. “Lao”and “da”as adiectives have their adverbial functions, which have some influence on the formation of Laoda as an adverb of degree. Because Laoda as an adjective is often used in the context that expresses grief, sorrow and negation, the adverb Laoda only appears before the negative predicate or structure.