词汇类型学视域下上古汉语“重”的语义演变

Semantic Evolution of theWord"Zhong"in Ancient Chinese Language from the Perspective of Lexical Typology

参考莫斯科词汇类型学研究小组(MLexT)的跨语言调查成果,采用其提出的“重(HEAVY)”语义场的框架和参数,对上古汉语中“重”的语义发展进行了深入分析。研究发现:在先秦时期,“重”的基础义参数分别为“描述客观属性”和“积极义/中性的视觉感受”。到了西汉时期,随着“强调身体感受”这一新参数的加入,“重”新衍生出表示“(工作、任务)困难复杂”的消极引申义。“重”也因此经历了从仅编码客观性状到同时编码客观性状和主观性状的演变过程。这一研究不仅丰富了对上古汉语“重”字语义发展的理解,也为汉语词汇语义演变研究提供了新的视角。

Based on the cross-linguistic investigation conducted by the Moscow Lexical Typology Group(MLexT),this article utilizes the framework and parameters of the"HEAVY"semantic field proposed by MLexT to conduct an in-depth analysis of the semantic development of the term"zhong"(重)in ancient Chinese language.The study reveals that during the Pre-Qin period,the fundamental semantic parameters of"zhong"(重)were"describing objective attributes"and"positive or neutral visual perception".In the Western Han period,with the addition of a new parameter emphasizing"bodily sensations","zhong"(重)developed a negative extended meaning associated with"difficulty and complexity of work or tasks".Consequently,the semantic evolution of"zhong"(重)involved a shift from encoding solely objective characteristics to simultaneously encoding both objective and subjective characteristics.This research not only enhances our understanding of the semantic development of the term"zhong"(重)in ancient Chinese but also provides a new perspective for the study of semantic evolution in the Chinese lexicon.