The Multiple Investigation Of The Adverb "Jihu, Xianxie, Chadian'er"

This paper concentrates on the investigation of three adverbs "Jihu(几乎),Xianxie(险些),Chadian'er(差点儿)" from several perspectives in term of kind. In the process of investigation, the methods of comparison combined with analysis, description combined with explanation and quantitative analysis combined with qualitative analysis are adopted in the purpose of revealing semantic features, syntactic distribution and diachronic source of these three adverbs.The essay is divided into four parts.The first part is Introduction. Reasons to choose the topic, research scope and methods, the data sources and label format are introduced. A brief summarization is given to the previous research achievements.The second part concentrates on analyzing the semantic features of the three adverbs and the limitation of their semantics of verbal components. The semantic features of the three adverbs are that they can be used to express Negative, Degree and Subjective attitudes though they have also semantic discrepancies. When modifying verbal components, it is required that verbal components must contain the results of the verbal or expresses an event. And the three adverbs tend to choose some semantic meaning verbal components.The third part mainly illustrates the syntactic distribution of the three adverbs. They are mainly used in subject-predicate and exhibit certain distribution characteristics. While the three adverbs are in using with some other adverbs, the complex orders of adverbs subjects to the basic principle of sequence. While using in redundant negation with the negative adverb "mei(没)",the three adverbs always express the subjective intention or subjective cognition.The forth part explores the diachronic source of the three adverbs. Analyses are given on the emergence and development of these three adverbs in term of grammar. The diachronic source of redundant negation is traced and its generative mechanism is also researched on.