A Study On Declarative Sentence Of Mediaeval Chinese

Declarative sentence has attracted much attention because of its important status and great changes on the history of Chinese. The birth of copula是shi has become a focus in the study of the history of Chinese. But period study and diachronic study are seldom found. Mediaeval period is critical for declarative sentence, because in this period old declarative sentences withered and new declarative sentences developed rapidly. Giving mediaeval declarative sentences full study can surely deepen the comprehension of development and evolution of declarative sentence.Basing on the principle of common linguistics, referring to categorization and grammaticalization theory of modern linguistics, using various modern methods, choosing unreligious, Taoist and Buddhist materials separately, this paper makes all-sided depiction and analysis on declarative sentences of mediaeval Chinese. Thus reveals the visage of declarative sentences of mediaeval Chinese. This paper is divided into six chapters.Chapter 1 is summarization. This part introduces the research actuality of declarative sentences of ancient Chinese, points out theory and methods used, judge criterion of declarative sentence and principle of choosing materials.Chapter 2 is no copula declarative sentence of mediaeval Chinese. This chapter gives no copula declarative sentences elaborate depiction and impersonal analysis from structure form, composing components and semantic relationship. It also discusses some important questions, which amend and renew some conclusions in exist. Studies indicate that from late 2 century no copula declarative sentence changed a lot compared with the one of ancient times.Chapter 3 is为wei copula declarative sentence of mediaeval Chinese. First, it discusses the copulative character of为wei, the motivation and mechanism of its appearance. Second, it gives为wei copula declarative sentences thorough depiction and analysis from structure form, composing components and semantic relationship, and also makes reasonable interpretations to some correlated questions. Third, it investigates further grammaticalization of为wei. Altogether the using frequency of为wei copula declarative sentence is not high in mediaeval times, this kind of sentence is a little simple compared with other declarative sentences in structure form and semantic relationship.Chapter 4 is是shi copula declarative sentence of mediaeval Chinese. Firstly, basing on adequate materials and exact data statistic, this article depicts and analyses the structure forms, composing components and semantic relationship of是shi copula declarative sentences. Secondly, it studies the origin of declarative sentence with postpositive是shi, and corrects some wrong understandings. Thirdly, it investigates further grammaticalization of是shi. Finally, it discusses the mature ages of是shi. Through investigating whether copula是shi can be used stably and independently, it concludes that copula是shi turned mature basically in Later Han dynasty.Chapter 5 is negative declarative sentence and interrogative declarative sentence of mediaeval Chinese. It discusses the negative forms of no copula declarative sentence,为wei copula declarative sentence and是shi copula declarative sentence. It also discusses four kinds of interrogative declarative sentences, and makes some analysis.Chapter 6 is epilogue. It summarizes the use of all kinds of declarative sentences of mediaeval Chinese, renews the comprehension of grammaticalization and categorization theory, gives proposal on the status of Later Han in the history of Chinese, and outlines the clue of the development and evolution of declarative sentence.