Middle Chinese Ya Words

This dissertation represents a study of the lexical system in the history of the Chinese language.The present study selects 'Exquisite words' (雅言词), a special type of lexemes in the written language of Middle Chinese, as its target of research. Exquisite Words are by and large new lexemes created by language users in the Middle Age on the basis of phrases appearing in the classics of the Pre-Qin Period, with their semantics being closely related to various classical texts. They are used by language users in the Middle Age with an aim to add stylistic colors, or erudite touch, to their discourses. The present study confines the ancient texts under study to a period between the Wang Mang Period in late Han Dynasty and the late Southern Song Dynasty in accordance with the life cycles of Exquisite Words, starting from the inception, development and decline of them.By exploring Exquisite Words in a systematic manner, this dissertation introduces the historical background concerning the germination, and uses of these words, unveiling the general situations and special characteristics of Exquisite Words created from different classics. It also presents an analysis of the grammatical status and rhetorical import of these words, and lists seven formation methods for these words while pointing out the formalistic and semantic features of them and the specific values of the study of Exquisite Words for the collation of ancient books and the compilation of dictionaries.The dissertation represents new academic endeavors in the following fronts:a. Enriching the contents in studying the history of Chinese by selecting Exquisite Words as an independent part in the lexical system of Middle Chinese;b. Unveiling the impact of Pre-Qin classics for the evolution of the lexical system in Middle Chinese, consequently offering detailed research data for the study of the influence of social and cultural factors over language development;c. Unveiling the etymology of Exquisite Words, and pointing out the special characteristics in creating Exquisite Words from different classics of the Pre-Qin Period;d. Exploring the formation patterns for Exquisite Words, and presenting seven methods in creating Exquisite Words;e. Summarizing the formal and semantic features of Exquisite Words; f. Presenting my own perspective on the grammatical status and rhetorical import of Exquisite Words;g. Pointing out the practical values for the compilation of dictionaries in studying Exquisite Words.h. Pointing out the practical values for the collation of ancient books in studying Exquisite Words;...