On hai4 in Mandarin
[还]字的语意探讨
Meng Yeh 叶萌

Abstract 摘要
The particle hai in Mandarin, similar to the counterpart noch in German and still in English, has various senses. The previous studies on these particles focused on the synchronic uses and proposed a core-meaning for all the uses. Taking a different approach from those studies, this paper examines the development of the various senses of hai throughout the history. The investigation of the diachronic uses of this lexeme manifests the general principles of semantic changes suggested by Sweetser (1988) and Traugott (1982; 1989), yet it also shows that the two major functions of hai, a connective marker meaning “also” and a temporal operator meaning “still,” developed distinctive properties after their derivational paths departed around the 7-8th century. Unlike the previous works which pursue a core-meaning of these particles, I offer different analyses for the two functions. Hai as a connective marker, a pragmatic function, provides additional confirmation of a conclusion derived from the preceding text. The function of hai which indicates the temporal continuance is analyzed as a scalar operator. The scalar analysis can be extended to account for the rest of the uses of hai.

本文主旨说明「还」在现代汉语中的语意功能.现代汉语中的「还」字用法繁多,类似于英文 still 和德文的 noch 。前人对于「还」、still、noch 的研究着重现今的用法来探讨其基本语意，认为此一基本语意可以解释所有的功能。本文则指出仅研讨现今的用法并无法透彻地了解「还」字的语意。作者强调应由历史演变资料来分析「还」字。根据演变语料，「还」字的基本语意功能可分为两种。文中第一部分探讨「还」字用法的历史演变。「还」字的本意是为一动词，表归返，然后延伸为「复」、「再」之意。于第七、八世纪，再由「复」、「再」之意发展出两种用法。一为表事件的持续，二为连接两个句子。如此的意义延伸，正符合 Sweetser (1988) 和 Traugott (1982; 1989) 所提出的语意演变原则。本文第二部分，作者分析此二种功能的不同。表持续之意，「还」可解释为呈现时间线上两个时间点之间的过程。第八世纪后，此一功能进而延伸至与形容词，比较句型连用。「还」字的第二种功能是用来连接句子，由「还」字引导出的句子，可以更进一步确定及加强两个句子连接所要表达的讯息。

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