Study On Subordinating Conjunctions In Three Novels In Ming Dynasty

Xingshiyan, Erke Paian Jingqi and Xingshi Hengyan are important novels in Ming Dynasty. The version and age of them are more reliable and the degree of spoken language of them is relatively high. So the three novels are important basic linguistic materials which are used to study Chinese in Ming Dynasty.The major research methods of this paper are quantitative methods, the exhaustive description, history comparison and so on.We divide the 131 subordinating conjunctions altogether in the three novels in Ming Dynasty into 6 parts, which are mainly based on the significance standard. The six parts are causes and effects conjunction, supposition conjunction, concessions conjunction, condition conjunction, transition conjunction, purpose conjunction. We carry on the exhausted description of each kind of the conjunctions, so we reveal the total appearance of the subordinating conjunctions quite comprehensive.The characteristics of the subordinating conjunctions in the three novels in Ming Dynasty have been described and induct in this article. As for the syllable structure, the monosyllable note conjunctions are 36, count 4344 examples. Double syllable conjunctions are 92, count 2742 examples. Three syllable conjunctions are 3, count 9 examples. Therefore, the number of the double syllable conjunctions occupy the superiority while the examples of the monosyllable note conjunctions occupy the superiority. As for the use way, the subordinating conjunctions which only can be used independent are 109, account 83.21%, can be used independent or in pairs are 22, account 16.79%. As for the connection language unit, the subordinating conjunctions which connect the clauses only are 108, account 82.44%, connect both the clauses and sentences are 23, account 17.56%. As for the syntax position, the subordinating conjunctions that can connect the clauses or sentences which have the subject are 88. In these conjunctions, the conjunctions only used before the subject are 42, which are the most, account 47.73%, only used after the subject are 10, which are the least, account 11.36%. Other 36 both may use before the subject and after it, account 40.91%.In this paper, we select concessions conjunctions which exist in the three novels in Ming Dynasty and Dunhuang Bianwen Jiaozhu, then we carry out the historical comparision.