说“八”、“分”——汉语词考原之一

On “八 bā”、“分 fēn”

汉语的"八"来自高棉语的brat"别,分"、泰语brat"分";因为藏语的"数词八"brɡjad→brad与之"同音",因此,古羌人乃借用古越(夏)人、夷(华)人本表"分、别"之"八"来表"数词八"。当这些语言混合之初,brɡjad→brad与brat可能都存在,但当他们融合为汉语时,藏语的"八"纳入汉语底层语言越、夷语只有清塞音尾的语音结构系统,于是就成了-d→-t;-n,藏语的brɡjad"八"就成了《广韵·月部》"房越切"的"八"和《广韵·弥韵》"其辇切"的"件"、《广韵·弥韵》"符蹇切"的"辧"。这就是中国音韵学所谓的"月元对转"。各种语言混合过程中,数词"八"不同时地的读音又接近藏语表示分别的揿bjed(pa)、phjed(pa),人们又用""、"匹"等与藏语音义对应的字表示分别以示与"八"字意义的区别。藏语揿bjed(pa)"分别"、phjed(pa)"分别、匹",融入汉语后,同样纳入底层语言越、夷语只有清塞音尾的语音系统发生-d→-t;-n的变化,于是成了《广韵·薛韵》"皮列切"的"、别"、《广韵·质韵》"譬吉切"的"匹"和《广韵·文韵》"府文切"的"分",这就是中国音韵学的"质文(谆)旁对转"。

The Chinese word ＂八＂ originated from Khmer word brat ＂to part company＂, Thai brat ＂be separated＂. Tibtan ＂8＂ brgjad→brad is close to it, so ancient Qiang borrowed from ancient Yue 越（Xia 夏） and ancient Yi 夷（Hua华） ＂八＂ （to separate） to indicate ＂8＂. In the early period of the mixing of these languages, brgjad---＊brad and brat coexisted. Later, when Tibetan ＂8＂ came into the phonetic structure of the language substratum （Yue, Yi） of Chinese, which had only unvoiced stop finals, there was the change of-d→-t;-n. Thus, Tibetan brgjad corresponds to ＂八＂（房越切 fan yue qie）in 月 Rhyme Group, Guangyun （《广韵·月部》）,“件”＂（其辇切 qi nian qie）in 弥 Rhyme Group, Guangyun （《广韵·弥韵》）, and ＂瓣＂（符蹇切 fu jian qie）in ~, Rhyme Group,Guangyun （《广韵·弥韵》）. This is ＂Yue Yuan Duizhuan phenomenon （月元对转）＂ in Chinese historical phonology. Similarly, when Tibetan ＂？bjed（pa）,phjed （pa）＂and Dai/Thai ＂pet＂ came into Chinese, there was the change of-d→t, -n. Thus, they corresponds to ＂匹＂ “、别＂ （pi lie qie 皮列切 in xue 薛 Rhyme Group, Guangyun《广韵·薛韵》）; ＂匹＂＂鸥＂ （pi ji qie “、别＂, Rhyme Group, Guangyun《广韵·质韵》and ＂分＂ （fu wen qie 府文切 in wen 文 Rhyme Group, Guangyun《广韵·文韵》）. This is ＂Zhi Wen Pangduizhuan（质文（谆）旁对转）＂in Chinese historical phonology.