The Diachronic Research Of Speculative Adverb "MoX" (莫X)

The thesis taking speculative adverb"MoX"(莫X) as the research objects , discuss their lexical process and mechanism. We use the theory of grammaticalization and relevant knowledge of cognitive linguistics pragmatics, observe a large number of diachronic language materials , and make some comparisons between their features in diachronic process. Their formation is a process from cross-layer structure to words. Their grammaticalization is related to several factors.The thesis can be divided into four chapters. introduction, we point out object of study significance of choosing this topic, the anterior research fruit of other people, some disadvantages on the past researches, we will explain the theory and method and discourses of language materials. First chapter , we summarize diachronic development and redevelopment of speculative adverb"Mo"(莫). We reach a conclusion after preliminary study: lexical process of"Mo"(莫) is":Mo"1(negative indefinite pronoun, no one, nothing)→"Mo"(莫)2(ordinary negative adverb, no)→"Mo"(莫)3(forbidden negative adverb, don't)→"Mo"(莫)4((speculative adverb, probably). The lexical mechanism of"Mo"(莫) include: the position of the words within the sentence, metaphor in cognitive psychology, politeness principle in pragmatics and so on. Second chapter, we make a diachronic research to positive speculative adverb"MoX"(莫X). It consists of two words :"MoShi"(莫是),"MoXu"(莫须).We reach a conclusion after preliminary study:"Moshi"(莫是) derives from cross-layer structure :"Mo"(莫)(adverb)+"Shi"(是) (adverb)Vp , the lexical mechanism of"MoShi"include: generalization, reanalysis and so on."Moxu"(莫须) derives from synonymous compound words : speculative adverb"Mo"(莫)and speculative adverb"Xu"(须). The tendency towards disyllabic words and the way of forming words by disyllabic words in Chinese language take a critic role in the process. Three chapter, we make a diachronic research to negative speculative adverb"MoX"(莫X). It consists of three words :"MoBu"(莫不),"MoBushi"(莫不是),""MoFei"(莫非).We reach a conclusion :"MoBu"(莫不)derives from cross-layer structure :"Mo"(莫)(adverb)+"Bu"(不)Vp. The lexical mechanism of"MoBu"(莫不) include: semantic association , reanalysis and so on. "Mobushi"derives from cross-layer structure:"Mo"(莫)(adverb)+"BuShi"(不是) (negative adverb) Vp, the lexical mechanism of"MoBusShi"(莫不是)include: generalization, the position of the words within the sentence and so on."Mofei"(莫非) derives from cross-layer structure of speculative adverb"Mo"(莫) and negative adverb"Fei"(非). The lexical mechanism of"MoBuShi"(莫不是) include: generalization, semantic association and so on. At the epilogue of this chapter, we make some comparisons between them. There are some common grounds and differences between them in grammaticalization. We'll point out with emphasis an important aspect in development and evolution of"MoX"(莫X) : effect of interrogative context on grammaticalization of"MoX"(莫X). In four chapter, We not only focus on compound words"MoX"(莫X), but also summarize and delve deeply into similar phenomenons, and we also give an further explanation to this. In last chapter, we summarize the main contents and important conclusions of the thesis.