The Study Of Interrogative Sentences In The Dialect Of Gutang In Lianyuan City

The paper mainly discusses the interrogative sentences of Gutang dialect. On the basis of rich first-hand materials from the extensive research of Gutang dialect and using the relevant research fruit of putonghua, the paper describes and explains synchronically the interrogative sentences of Gutang dialect in three theories and methods. In contrast to the interrogative sentences of putonghua and dialects in neighboring areas, the features and the reasons of interrogative sentences of Gutang dialect in the city of Lianyuan are described and inferred.The paper is divided into two parts:1. The interrogative sentence system of Gutang dialectThe author finds that it is impossible to express the interrogative information only by phonetic means. Eight interrogative words in common use are included in the dialect but the equivalent of ma in putonghua is excluded. The interrogative pronouns in common use are na ge, me ge, na luo, na duo, na luo, hao duo, hao, ji, zuo me ge, wei de ge me ge, ma luo, ma luo di, ma luo...di. Pronoun Ji indicating number is the same as the the equivalent in putonghua. Others are different from putonghua but correspond to putonghua on the whole. According to the expressions of interrogative sentences, interrogative sentences (questions) of Gutang dialect can be classified into four kinds: positive-negative questions, special questions, alternative questions and guessing questions. There is no typical yes-no question in Gutang dialect and differences between Gutang dialect and putuhua exist in the minor classifications of alternative question and positive-negative question. The ellipsis forms of positive-negative questions are most frequently used, which is related with the simplicity of spoken language.2. Comparison of interrogative sentences between Gutang dialect onthe one hand, and putonghua and dialects in neighboring areas on the other handThrough comparative study, the author finds that it is the common feature of the dialect in most areas of Lianyuan city (except Baima district) that interrogative information can not be expressed only by phonetic means. In the aspects of others means and sentence patterns of expressing interrogation, there are some differences between Gutang dialect on one hand, and putonghua and dialects in neighboring areas on the other hand. The two reasons are showed as follows:One is that the interrogative word a is used frequently in Gutang dialect, which makes alternative questions and positive-negative questions in Gutang dialect unique. The other is that the original pronunciation of en na is preserved in Gutang dialect while en na is blended into nan in dialects of neighboring areas, which corresponds to ma in putonghua. Thus, a series of differences in interrogative sentence patterns between Gutang dialect on one hand and putonghua and dialects in neighboring areas on the other hand are caused by the above two reasons.