The transformation and development of nominal-verb category change in ancient Chinese

Author: Zhang Wenguo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: This book primarily discusses the transformation and development of nominal-verb categories in ancient Chinese. The introduction provides a brief review of research on word class transformation in the history of Chinese grammar, with a focus on Bianyin (Discerning Sounds) and Jiajie (Loan Characters) in Ma's Literary Commentary as well as current theories of word class flexibility. The general part discusses theoretical issues related to word class transformation in ancient Chinese, particularly the transformation of nominal-verb categories, including the sequence of transformation, the relationship between grammatical functions and word class transformation, the relationship between semantic extension and word class transformation, the distinction between compounding and flexibility, and the relationship between style and word class transformation. The specific part, guided by the theories in the general part, discusses the transformation and development of word classes for animal nouns, utensil nouns, natural nouns, physical nouns, food and clothing nouns, architectural nouns, abstract nouns, and disyllabic nouns. The conclusion provides a relatively comprehensive summary of the characteristics and developmental patterns of nominal-verb category transformation in ancient Chinese.