The etymology of the aspect marker tsi in the Wu dialect
吴语情貌词 "仔" 的语源
Tsu-lin Mei 梅祖麟

Abstract 摘要
This paper proposes that the aspect suffix 仔in Wu was derived from 著（着）Mc , which became the progressive suffix zhe in Mandarin. Reasons: in Early Mandarin texts the perfective le and the progressive zhe are sometimes confused; in Wu serves both these functions; MC > is regular in the older strata of Wu. The remainder of the paper discusses the semantic shift that led to the use of as a perfective suffix in Wu, and analyzes the differential development of liao (le) and zhe () in Mandarin and Wu as a case of competing change.

吴语的＂仔＂字有两种用法．一种是完成貌词尾，例如＂吃仔饭哉＂（＂吃了饭了＂），一种是持续貌词尾，例如＂骑仔马寻马＂（＂骑着马找马＂）．本文指出＂仔＂字就是＂著（着）＂字．理由有三项．（－）吴语＂着＂字的语音是，跟＂仔＂字相同．＂着＂字中古知母鱼韵.而鱼韵在南方方言自中古以来就是开口，＂着＂字语音的演变是：中古 > 吴语．（二）早期白话有＂著（着）＂，＂了＂两字混用的现象，可证＂着＂字曾经一度同时用来表达完成貌跟持续貌．（三）＂着＂字在唐代已用作完成补语，虚化后就会变成吴语完成貌词尾．此外本文还指出＂着＂跟＂了＂在语法演变过程中曾经竞争完成貌词尾的地位．而在普通话跟吴语中产生不同的结果．另外有若干虚词在各别的方言中也产生不同的意义跟用法。

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