The formation of the copula function of wei 为 and the nature of the “wei 为 V” construction
“为”系词功能的形成和“为V”结构的性质
Jianhong Zeng 曾检红; Christoph Anderl

Abstract 摘要
This paper aims to explain the development of the copula function of wei 为 and to show that wei in the “wei V” construction is a copula during pre-Han times, rather than a passive marker. Therefore, in essence, the “wei V” construction is a copula construction rather than a passive construction. In this analysis, we pay special attention to the “yi 以 X wei 为 Y” construction and draw the following conclusions: (1) the generalized copula function of wei derives from the “yi X wei Y” construction because of the disposal function of yi, and because wei absorbed the characteristics of the “yi X wei Y” construction. This conclusion is based on the observation that the unique features of wei as a copula are congruent with its function in the “yi X wei Y” construction, and that the change from “V yi wei” to “V wei” indicates that wei replaced “yi wei” to a certain degree. (2) “X wei V” is an alternative pattern of “yi X wei V” when a causer (C) does not appear in the same clause with wei. These observations are supported by the fact that “yi X wei V” and “X wei V” have the same (low) frequency, and are both very limited in their semantic range, and that their exchangeability does not have any influence on their semantics. (3) “wei A V” is formed through the omission of yi in the “yi X wei A V” or, alternatively, through the addition of the agent A in “wei V”, whereas “wei A (zhi) suo V” is the consequence of “A (zhi) suo V” replacing “A V” in “wei A V”. Therefore, none of the wei constructions in pre-Qin should be regarded as syntactically functioning as passive constructions. Rather, “wei A suo V” became a common passive construction only in the Han dynasty.

文章分析了“为”字功能的形成过程，并证明“为V”结构中的“为”应释为系词，而非被动标记。因此，“为V”结构本质上是系词结构而非被动结构。本文从分析“以X为Y”结构出发，得出以下结论：(1) “为”的系词功能来自于“以X为Y”结构，因为“以”的处置功能，及“为”吸收了“以X为Y”结构的构式特征，其理据是“为”作为系词的功能特征和“以X为Y”的构式特征有高度的吻合性，而且存在“V以为”省略为“V为”的明显发展趋势。(2)当致使者不和“为”共现于同一个从句时，“X为V”是“以X为V”的可替换项，理据是二者的使用频率均较低，语义范围均非常有限，而且二者具有可互换性。(3)“为AV”可能是“以X为AV”省略“以”而成，或者由“为V”添加A而成，而“为A(之)所V”则是“A(之)所V”替代“为AV”中的“AV”而成。因此，先秦時期的“为”字式，从句法上来说都不是被动式。“为A所V”在汉代成为了一个真正的被动式。

Subject Keywords 主题词

Copula construction 系词结构 Passive construction 被动结构 “Yi 以 X wei 为 Y” disposal construction “以X为Y”处置结构 Wei 为 V “为V”结构


Journal of Chinese Linguistics vol.47, no.1 (January 2019): 82-124
Copyright © 2019 Journal of Chinese Linguistices. All rights reserved.

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