Functions, Origin And Evolution Of Ke(可) As An Adverb

In modern Chinese ke(可)as an adverb is generally regarded as a emphatic modaladverb. Based on the precursors' studies, the author takes Systemic FunctionalGrammar theory as a basis to research thoroughly the functions of ke as an adverb onmodern Chinese level in variety of analysis ways, with the corpus of contemporary oralChinese in Beijing, and to further research the course of grammaticalization of it fromthe level of ancient Chinese. The paper demonstrates that ke as an adverb in modernChinese has the functions of mood adverb, conjunction and intensifier, so it can beclassified into three categories of adverb: modal adverb, correlative adverb andintensifier. In addition with introduction and conclusion, the paper consists of threeparts: The first part researches the nature of ke as an adverb. Through comparing theapplied frequencies and style distribution of ke as an adverb(可₂), an auxiliary(可₁)and a conjunction(可₃), the author finds that ke as an adverb appears frequently in oralChinese. Based on the studies of grammatical characters of ke as an adverb in 1920s inthe grammar field, the paper preliminarily proves that ke as an adverb in modernChinese is a modal adverb, and puts forward feasible standard to identify them. The second part mainly researches functions of ke as an adverb in modernChinese. First, through researching characters of syntactic distribution and syntacticclass distribution of ke as an adverb, the paper finds: ke is characterized asorientationalness and dynamicness. Especially ke is used more frequently in declarativethan that in the other three types of clause. Then, the paper mainly researches threefunction of ke as an adverb: interpersonal function functions as emphatic mood andsubjective modality; textual function refers to connective function; ideational functionembodies the degree of height. The paper proves that ke can function as modal adverb,correlative adverb and intensifier. It is a multifunctional adverb. Subjective emphaticfunction is its basic and main function. Its two subfunctions are function of connectionand embodiment of the degree of height. The third part researches the process of grammaticalization of ke on ancientChinese level, and mainly researches origin and evolution process of several functions,meanings and usages of ke as an adverb in modern Chinese. The grammaticalizing chainof ke from the ancient to the present roughly is: verb→auxiliary→adverb→conjunction.Although several functions, meanings and usages of ke as an adverb didn't emerge inthe same time, the trace can be probed. In general, these meanings and functionssprouted in ancient times, developed in middle ancient times and gradually matured inrecent ancient times. In this comparatively long time, it's firstly influenced by context;secondly, it's degeneralized and generalized by its meaning. As a result, ke changedfrom auxiliary to adverb step by step. Meanwhile, due to the double functions ofsimultaneous principle and preserving principle, 可 , 可 ,可 co-exist in modern 1 2 3Chinese, and even we can see their usages and characters in ancient Chinese from theirfunctions and meanings.