A Study On The Grammaticalization Of Chinese "hen(很)" Type Degree Adverbs

This paper chooses a subcategory of degree adverbs,the monosyllabic absolute degree adverbs for the high degree,as the objects of the study,and selects “hen(很)” “ting(挺)” “hao(好)” “guai(怪)” “po(颇)” and “duo(多)” for case studies.It analyzes the grammaticalization processes of these adverbs,and explores the motivations and mechanisms for their grammaticalization.This paper uses the CCL corpus to conduct statistics on the uses of target words in different historical periods from the Zhou Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty.Based on the Grammaticalization Theory,it analyzes the transition process between various semantics and syntactic structures,and further clarifies their grammaticalization paths.On this basis,it analyzes the characteristics and regularities of the grammaticalization of these adverbs and explores the motivations and mechanisms for their grammaticalization.The paper’s main findings are as follows:Firstly,the grammaticalization processes of “hen(很)” type degree adverbs are as follows.In relation to the occurence time,“hen(很)” type degree adverbs appeared after the Han Dynasty and matured in the Ming and Qing dynasties.Regarding the word classes,they evolved through the path of adjective/verb > adjective/auxiliary verb/scope adverb/manner adverb/frequency adverb > degree adverb.In terms of semantics,they developed from denoting specific semantics to the degree.In terms of syntactic structure,“hen(很)” type degree adverbs have two structural sources: the “adjective + adjective” structure and the “adjective + verb” structure,with the latter being the main one.There are two types of syntactic evolutions: “Coordinate structure–the structure of Adverbial Modifier” and “the structure of Adverbial Modifier-the structure of Adverbial Modifier”,with the latter being the main one.Secondly,the grammaticalization of “hen(很)” type degree adverbs has the characteristics of unidirectionality and hysteresis.They realized a unidirectional evolution from concrete to abstract,with the word classes downgraded,the semantic abstraction increased,and the adhesiveness of syntactic structures increased.However,no phonetic weakening phenomenon has been observed in the grammaticalization process of such degree adverbs.Instead,there has been the phenomenon of stress intensification.This paper suggests that it is caused by degree adverbs’ function in expressing emphasis.Hysteresis characterizes the grammaticalization of this type of degree adverbs.In the process of grammaticalization,the change of language forms lags behind the transformation of semantics and there is the phenomenon of polysemy.Thirdly,for evolutionary motivations and mechanisms,semantic foundations,syntactic position,context,and frequency of use create the conditions for the grammaticalization of “hen(很)” type degree adverbs.Semantic is the basis for the grammaticalization;change in syntactic position is the key to the grammaticalization;context is a necessary condition for the change in semantics and syntactic position,and the high use frequency facilitates the grammaticalisation.On this basis,grammaticalization is achieved through mechanisms such as metaphor,semantic generalization,analogy and reanalysis.Through the database research,this paper more clearly reveals the origins and evolution processes of “hen(很)” type degree adverbs and their uses in different periods,which is conducive to enriching the understanding of this category of words.Besides,this paper further clarifies the evolution path and explores the motivations and mechanisms for the grammaticalization of “hen(很)” type degree adverbs,which is conducive to grasping the evolution rules of degree adverbs and has value for language research and learning.