Research On The Derivation Of A Group Of Special Verbal Quantifiers

On the basis of the original study, with the method of description and interpretation, the paper inspects the evolution of a group of verbal quantifiers, from the perspective of synchronic and diachronic. In addition with introduction and conclusion, the paper consists of five parts.The first part inspects the emergence, development, and derivation of"guo", which is seen in Jin Dynasty. Our opinion is that"guo"grammaticalized from"numeral +verb". The function of"guo"is adverbial and complement. The number of verbs modified by"guo"gradually increased in Southern and Northern Dynasties, it became a generic verb quantifier. Because of its own residual meaning, it was replaced by other words.The second part explains the emergence of"ci", and proves that the verb"ci"(means stay, presence)lack the conditions of grammaticalization. Our opinion is that"ci"grammaticalized from the noun"ci"(means latitude). We give a description of the functions of"ci"and the expansion of the verbs modified by it in history. The third part describes the origin and derivation of"hui"and"du", the former grammaticalized from the verb"hui"(means bend) and the latter grammaticalized from the noun"du"(means latitude). The difference between them is that"ci"preferred to act as adverbial and the latter preferred to act as complement. The character of"du"was inconsistent with the development trends of the verbal quantifiers and was replaced by other words.The fourth part describes the derivation of"fan"and"zhuan". We try to find their similarities and differences.The fifth part describes the derivation of"zao"and"tang", offering a description of the process how"tang"took the place of"zao". Since"zao"has the similar meaning with"za", it was used together with"za"in Tang Dynasty , began to compete with it and gradually replaced its place. In Ming Dynasty,"zao"became a special and generic verbal quantifier and had obvious geographical and dialects color."tang"appeared in Ming Dynasty and took the place of"zao"in Qing Dynasty.