Modern Chinese Grammar Research

Author: Yu Guangzhong, Jiten Kuni
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-07-09
Features: The third paragraph, second line in the excerpt. represents the character composed of "mountain" on the left and "Lu" on the right.
4. Evidence from Modern Chinese Dialects
The evidence from modern Chinese dialects can serve as a mutual verification between ancient and modern languages, and can also spark beneficial reflections on the topic of this section as well as the relationship between modern and vernacular Chinese.
4.1 Forms of State Duration Similar to Those in Vernacular Chinese
In Chengdu dialect, there is no "zai" (or "de" or "li") at the end of sentences expressing state duration. According to Zhang Qingyuan's research, this "zai" is different from the adverb "zai" and is an auxiliary word indicating progress and continuity. Since "V qi1" primarily expresses a static state of duration, the "zai" at the end of sentences provided by Zhang's study, which include "V qi1," are essentially the "(S-P) zai" sentences mentioned in this paper:
△ The room is lighting up zai.
△ The table is placing a teacup zai.
△ This classroom is empty zai.
△ This patient is still alive zai.
△ The two dogs are barking zai.
For example, in the dialects of central Shandong, there are "(S-P) zai (na) li." We have conducted field investigations in dialects of Tai'an and Laiwu, among others. For instance, in Tai'an dialect:
△ Oh! How come there's a seal stuck here on the door, don't know who put it.
△ Come quickly, I've caught a cricket here!
△ Be good, don't fuss, I'm busy here.
△ Long ago, they wore new clothes there, mostly going to visit relatives.
△ They brewed a good pot of tea there, if you don't drink it now, it'll go stale.
For example, in Laiwu dialect:
△ They have money here, why are they afraid of not buying well?
△ He's not here well, when did he get injured?
△ Don't buy, wasn't it bought in the morning?
△ I saw him in the restaurant, his face was red, definitely got drunk again.
△ A whole cart of watermelons overturned here.
However, the usage of "zai (na) li" in central Shandong is not as frequent as the Wu dialect's "là là" mentioned later, and its usage is more common in rural areas than in cities, among the older generation than the younger. It is showing a declining trend.
4.2 Forms of State Duration with Different Etymologies but Similar Frameworks in Wu Dialects
Many regions in Wu dialects have hollowed-out state-duration sentences. For example, "le li" in Suzhou dialect, "le lang" in Shanghai dialect, "là là," "là," "le hai," "le lang" in Shanghai dialect, "lai niang" in Wuxi dialect, "lai dong," "lai heng" in Shaoxing dialect, "le hua," "hua" in Jiaxing dialect, "lai dong," "dong" in Ningbo dialect, all can be used at the end of sentences to subordinate to the sentence. For example, in Shanghai dialect (translation uses "(S-P) zai (na) li" sentences):
△ Mama bought two pounds of hairy crabs là là. (Mom bought two pounds of crabs there.)
△ Money is là là, don't need to borrow anymore. (Money is here, don't need to borrow.)
For example, in Jiaxing dialect:
△ The ferry is là hua, how come you're still sitting here?
△ He forgot là hua.
△ It's so crowded on the street that it's like overseas là.
Moreover, Wu dialects have always been this way, and the dialogues in Han Bangqing's Flowers of the Sea and Feng Menglong's Mountain Songs are undoubtedly modern Wu dialects:
△ I have something to do, please go away. (Flowers of the Sea, Chapter 34)