参照点关系的延续与变化——“大抵”的语法化研究

Continuation and Change in Reference Point Relationship ──A Study on the Grammaticalization of Dadi(大抵)

以名词性成分为源头,“大抵”分别演变为范围副词、程度副词和情态副词。范围副词用法主要用于限定表示事件和数量的结构,程度副词用法则用于说明行为或状态的程度,它们都表示“约量”义。由于参照点关系发生变化,凸显“约量”让位于凸显不确定性,“大抵”因而演变为表示可能认识情态的副词。

Originating from a nominal component, Dadi(大抵) has evolved into a scope adverb, degree adverb,and modality adverb. Used as a scope adverb, Dadi(大抵) mainly modifies the structure indicating events and quantities, while as a degree adverb, it describes the degree of actions or states. They all express the meaning of “approximate quantity”. Due to the change in reference point relationship, highlighting the “approximate quantity” gives way to highlighting uncertainty. As a result, Dadi(大抵) has evolved into an adverb indicating probable epistemic modality.