| The idioms of number-inlayed are special ones of Chinese idioms, the numerals in which have a deal of meanings as while as use. A comprehensive description and detailed analysis of these patterns and numerals is a beneficial supplement to Chinese study. Meanwhile, the reasons of vary use and meanings of the numerals in idioms are also worth to study, which are relate to the grammaticalization of numerals. While nowadays we can see more and more researches in grammaticalization of many kinds of Chinese words, such as nominal and verbal, but not of numeral. In this case, the study of numeral's grammaticalization is important.We picked out the idioms of inlaying-number-in-odd-place to study. Firstly we analyzed their structure and meanings, and found that a numeral in different patterns has different use and meanings, even showed different part-of-speech. We chose several typical numerals and searched for the motives and characteristics of their grammaticalization., which can also present the general motives and characteristics of most numerals.The main conclusion is that not only in the idioms but also in the modern Chinese, the numerals have varied meanings and use, which is the result of numerals'grammaticalization. The motives of numerals'grammaticalization are similar to the other words, and also have some characteristics of their own. The numerals'grammaticalization is related to the syntactic position, the effects of other components of the sentences and the generalization of meanings. The numerals have changed step by step with these motives, and which can be seen both in the changes of"Yi"and"Wan". We also discussed"Qianwan"and"Wanwan", which have similar characteristics as"Yi"and"Wan".It is the first time to make a description and analysis of the idioms of inlaying- number-in-odd-place in details, and which is also the first time to study the process and motives of the numerals'grammaticalization. We consider it is important and useful to Chinese study. |
PDF Full Text Request