上古汉语“主+实+谓”中“实”的功能

The function of shi (实) in the construction of ‘Subj.+ shi (实) + VP’ in Archaic Chinese

以往对于"主+实+谓"中的"实"有四种界定:指代词、语气副词、对比焦点标记、主格标记。本文调查了"实"在单句和语段中的表现,认为"实"是焦点助词,其作用不限于标注对比焦点,还可以标注信息焦点和话题焦点(又称对比话题),"实"标注话题焦点的比例居多。句法方面,"实"位于TP以下、vP和NegP以上,这是古汉语焦点成分的着陆点;话语功能方面,"实"倾向于加在语段中区别度高的信息后面。"实"偏向于高生命度主语、表示对比,这显示它起源于回指人物的指代词而不是语气副词。"主+实+谓"脱胎于主题句(即"主题,实+谓"),从主题句发展为一般主谓句,其间经历了结构紧缩和语音停顿消失等过程。

On identifying the syntactic category and discourse function of shi(实)in‘Subj.+shi(实)+VP’construction in Archaic Chinese,there are in general four different opinions:a modal adverb expressing certainty;a demonstrative that refers to the subject;a nominative suffix;or a particle marking the focus in comparative context.By examining the features of shi(实)in Archaic Chinese texts with special focus on its syntactic distribution and discourse function,the paper argues that shi(实)is actually a focus marker located at the left edge of NegP/vP and frequently follows NPs with information of high thematic importance.The fact that this particle shi(实)is most likely to co-occur with subjects with high animacy implies that its historical source should be the demonstrative shi(实).Besides,the construction of‘Subj.+shi(实)+VP’is also believed to be derived from the construction‘TOP,shi(实)+VP’attested in early Archaic Chinese texts.