说秦汉“婴儿”称谓

Exploration of Address Forms for Baby during the Qin and Han Dynasties

秦汉时期文献所见"婴儿"称谓,涵义有所不同。或指"初生"儿,与今义接近。或指幼儿,与"大人"对应,义近今人所谓少年儿童。或说"女曰婴,男曰儿",自有性别区分。当时"婴儿"称谓指代对象的复杂,体现秦汉时期是汉语社会称谓形成和使用逐步确定化的历史阶段。其情形,或亦与"由上古汉语向中古汉语的过渡"有关。而未成年人的生活情境与社会地位,也可以通过相关现象得以反映。

Baby in the literature of the Qin and Han Dynasties has different references. It may refer to the newborn same as its present meaning. It may refer to the infant opposite to adult, same as today＇ s young child. It may also mean that the girl is baby, while the boy is child. In other words, it distinguishes the sex. The complex of its address form manifests that the period of the Qin and Han Dynasties is the phase for the formation and gradual stability of Chinese address forms. Maybe it is also related with the transition from ancient to middle-aged Chinese. Moreover, the juvenile＇ s life and social status can be reflected through relative phenomena.