明清时期后置“在+处所指代词”虚化用法研究

Grammaticalization of“Zai+Demonstrative Locatives”During Ming and Qing Dynasties

明清时期后置的“在+处所指代词”除表示处所的用法之外,在一定条件下还有处所义弱化和表状态持续和肯定语气的虚化用法,“在+处所指代词”前的谓词性成分具有可静态持续的特点是虚化用法的必要条件。当事件各参项位置不一致、句首有处所词语/领属成分时,“在+处所指代词”处所义弱化;当谓词性成分中动词宾语为抽象事物、谓词性成分为静态谓词“活、开、关、掩、锁、淘气”等、谓词性成分为组合式结果补语或“得”字程度补语、谓词性成分为熟语时,“在+处所指代词”完全不表处所,表持续并兼表肯定语气。明代虚化用法的“在+处所指代词”没有地域上的分布倾向,属通语用法,到清代,虚化用法在北方方言开始衰落,南方方言仍沿用至现代汉语。

Apart from the meaning of location,the post-predicate“Zai(在)+Demonstrative Locatives”can express durative aspect and affirmative moods in some conditions during Ming and Qing dynasties.Stativity of the predicate words modified by the“Zai+Demonstrative Locatives”is the essential condition of grammaticalizaiton of the“Zai+Demonstrative Locatives”.When the participants of event are in different positions or when a clause begins with structures expressing location or possession,the locative meaning of the“Zai+Demonstrative Locatives”is weakened.The conditions for the“Zai+Demonstrative Locatives”to express durative aspect and affirmative mood include:when the objects of predicative words are mass nouns;when the predicative words are stative words like live,opening,closing,naughty etc.;when the predicative are complicate(verb/adjective+complement)and when the predicative are idioms.In Ming dynasty,the usage of weakening meaning of location,durative aspect and affirmative mood of the“Zai+Demonstrative Locatives”is still used in Northern and Southern China.Such usage declines in Northern China in Qing dynasty,but currently still widespread in Southern China.