A Study On The Topic Marker "Zhè/Nà" "这/那" In Premodern Chinese

The discussion of topic markers has always been the focus of academic research.Topic marker is a common means of topic-prominent language to highlight topics.Based on the Premodern Chinese vernacular fiction,this thesis studies the topic marking function of "zhè/nà" from the perspective of discourse pragmatics.This thesis regards "zhè/nà" used at the beginning of a sentence as a special kind of topic marker in narrative style vernacular novels,and analyzes the topic marker "zhè/nà" from the perspectives of grammar,text pragmatics and so on.Referring to something else in a specific situation so that it can be distinguished from other things is originally the most basic indicative meaning of "zhè/nà".After diachronic evolution,driven by various grammaticalization mechanisms and motivations,from the perspective of grammatical function,"zhè/nà" can gradually guide generic reference,proper noun,predicate component and even clause;In text pragmatics,"zhè/nà" has gradually developed to indicate the only thing with high discrimination,shared knowledge and associative content in the text,showing changes in grammatical function.The virtualized "zhè/nà" is used in front of the topic at the beginning of the sentence,showing the function of topic marking.It has the functions of opening the topic,continuing the topic,changing the topic and anchoring the topic.Narrative style is a style developed from the art of "speaking".In vernacular novels,there is an image of a narrator,often use some discourse means to guide the absent readers,intervene in the development of characters and plot in the novel."zhè/nà" is one of the common discourse means.These pragmatic functions complement each other with the narrator’s writing style in narrative style vernacular novels,and become the discourse means for the narrator to interact and communicate with the absent reader.In modern times,the narrative mode and communication mode of the novel have changed,and the work style more acceptable to the novel audience has changed.It is difficult for the author to maintain the tone of the storyteller to the readers.The topic marking role of "zhè/nà" in the text narration has gradually degenerated,and emerged more function of discourse markers in oral language.