CONTENTS OF ZGYW 2000

ZHONGGUO YUWEN, January, 2001, NO.1(Volume 280)

Mei, Tsu-Lin, The survival of two pairs of Qieyun distinctions in Southern Wu dialects(3)

In The Family Instruction of the Yan Clan, Yan Zhitui(531-591) pointed out that the Southerners were able to distinguish between the rhymes yu(鱼), and yu(虞), and between the rhymes zhi(支) and zhi(脂), but the Northerners were not. The same two pairs of distinctions were mentioned in the Preface to the Qieyun(601). This paper uses data from Southern Wu dialects to show that these two pairs of distinctions are both preserved, which means that Modern Wu has a stratum directly descended from the Jiangdong dialect of the Southern dynasties.
The author also performed chronological stratification of the zhi(支), yu(鱼) and yu(虞) rhymes in Wu dialects, and chronological stratification of the same rhymes in Min dialects. He then compared Wu and Min in their corresponding strata, and came to the conclusion that in the Jiangdong dialect of the 6th century, the yu(鱼) and zhi(支) rhymes were respectively pronounced i« and ie.
Key words: Qieyun, comparative Wu, comparative Min

Li, Yafei, Word order and phrase structure(16)

Inspired by Kayne 1994, this paper explores the following correlation: a phrase P　c_commands a head H in a syntactic structure if P linearly precedes H. The correlation effectively imposes a head_final structure on all human languages when no constituent moves. The only way to obtain a (superficial) head_initial structure is through head_movement. Various typological consequences follow, including the facts that languages are evenly divided between OV and VO and that the
subject (in its most general structural sense) precedes the head cross_categorically and cross_linguistically. The theory also provides a simple way to account for languages with mixed head positions, such as Chinese and German. Another consequence of the theory is the prediction that, when marking an embedded clause, only head-final languages separate the complementizer from the clause_typing morpheme; head-initial languages typically have a single morpheme for both functions. The prediction is borne out through comparison between Japanese/Korean and English/German. In addition, the theory derives the Lexicalist Hypothesis that all morphologically complex words are formed with lexical rules. It is the first time in the generative literature to provide a theoretical proof that the possibility of word_formation through syntactic head_movement does not exist.

Key words: c_command, linear precedence, phrase_structure, head, head_movement, Lexicalist Hypothesis, syntax_morphology interface, head_final languages, head_initial languages, complementizer, clause_typing morpheme, word_order typology

Feng, Shengli, Prosodically determined distinctions between word and phrase in Chinese (27)

In Chinese linguistics, there has long been a problem about the distinction between words and phrases. Based on four types of V(erb)+C(omplement) constructions, this paper argues that only two syllable VC forms are qualified to be a word, while other VC forms formed with three or more syllables are all phrases.
It is further argued that prosody is not only what the word_intuition comes from by Chinese native speakers, but is also an important criterion for setting a clear boundary between what can be words and what can be phrases in Chinese.
Thus, prosody must be taken as an independent level of grammar for human languages. Finally, based on the development of bei construction in classical Chinese, this paper shows that the prosodic morphology in Chinese developed in the past few years could also be used adequately to explain not only synchronic but also diachronic facts.
Key words: word_intuition, word/phrase distinction, PrWd, level of grammar, bei_construction

Wang, Ying, About the meaning of the word cheng (承) (38)

Zhou, Xinping, Chinese Romanization in North America: On the Wade_Giles to Pinyin conversion in North American Libraries(40)

This article discusses Wade_Giles to Pinyin conversion that has been implemented in all North American libraries beginning from October1, 2000. It explores the Library of Congress' Chinese Romanization Guidelines and its differences from Hanyu Pinyin Fang'an that was promulgated in 1958 in the People's Republic of China. It also discusses other issues on the use of romanization for the transliteration of Chinese characters in North American libraries.
Key words: Pinyin, Wade-Giles, Romanization of Chinese characters, data conversion

Liu, Yinglin, A study of the theoretical viewpoints and standardization of Putonghua Proficiency Test(45)

This essay approaches Putonghua Proficiency Test from two perspectives and draws a conclusion. The first perspective is the theoretical one. It illustrates the fact that the theoretical grounds for the development of the measurement scale for assessing proficiency in Putonghua derive from the continuity of Putonghua and the theoretical assumption that the continuous parts illustrate by nature various stages and levels. The method of classification by categories has been employed to classify and define the area of assessment. The second perspective is the standardization. The standardized test in Putonghua has been defined in 4 areas. The standards for assessing proficiency in Putonghua have been stated, which should
be standardized, liberal and dynamic. Also discussed in the essay is the strict control over the deviation in assessment-the control over the deviation in rating, the degree of difficulty, reliability and validity, the controlling effect of single and double syllables and the equalization of marks.
Key words: Putonghua, Proficiency Test, continuity, scope and classification, standardization, deviation control

Tin, Siu Lam, A comparative study of the Putonghua proficiency tests of Mainland China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (54)

The Putonghua Proficiency Test conducted by the National Language Committee Putonghua Training & Assessment Centre has been held in Mainland China starting from Oct. 1994. After six years of practice, the examination has recently been included into the Law of Commonly-used Language of PRC. Moreover, this national examination has also been adopted in Hong Kong since Sept. 1996, and there are totally five testing centres in Hong Kong tertiary institutes nowadays.
The Hong Kong Examinations Authority has launched two public Putonghua examinations, namely the Test of Proficiency in Putonghua and the Test of Advanced Proficiency in Putonghua since 1988. Furthermore, Putonghua will become a subject of examination in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination in 2000, the Benchmark Examination for the primary and secondary school Putonghua teacher will be introduced in 2001, and the Authority will run these two examinations.
This paper attempts to compare the Putonghua Proficiency Test of Mainland China and those Putonghua proficiency tests held in Hong Kong. It seems that there are differences in the following aspects: aims, entry requirements, examinees, content of examination, level of examination, specification, sample paper, subject matter of the paper and marking etc. It is concluded that comparative study helps to enhance the quality of Putonghua proficiency assessment.
Key words: Putonghua Proficiency Test (national grade), reliability and validity of test, Test of Proficiency in Putonghua (Hong Kong)

Zhou, Qinghai, Some problems in the language and writing test(60)

Cheng, Rong & Mao, Yongbo, Solution to the relations between classic and current Chinese language in Chinese dictionaries (66)

The relations between classic and current Chinese language is a key element, a focus, as well as a difficult point for the design of a Chinese dictionary. If this factor is neglected, problems will occur as a result of laying too much stress on classic Chinese while neglecting current Chinese, or stressing too much the current while neglecting the classic, or mixing the classic with the current, so that the function of the dictionary in helping readers to read and write is greatly affected. Dictionaries including both classic and current Chinese are supposed to give concern to the distinction between classic and current Chinese language in order to provide necessary information for the readers.
Key words: Chinese dictionary, the relations between classic and current Chinese language, solution, existing problems

He, Wanping, About ningke (宁可)(76)
Wang, Linhui, The structure types of the words with ge (圪) prefix in Shanxi Dialects(80)
Liu, Yulin, A way of bi_syllabization process by using ge (圪) prefix in Jin dialects (83)
Xu, Shu, Introduction of reference book of Chinese syntax analysis by Lu Shuxiang(85)
Wang, Jihong, About the correct forms of two Chinese characters: qian(千) and gui(龟)(87)
Su, Yang, About the chronology of the structure of classifiers plus affix(37)

ZHONGGUO YUWEN, March, 2001, NO.2 (Volume 281)

Pan, Wuyun, Fanqie behaviour and Fanqie principles (99)

The study of Qieyun must be based on Fanqie. But, owing to the insufficiency in research on the Fanqie behaviour, some basic features of Qieyun seem to disagree with the result of phonological stringing of characters used in Fanqie. Based mainly on the materials of Fanqie reflected in the Wang San versions of Qieyun, this paper sheds new light on the Fanqie behaviour and sums up key Fanqie principles from Fanqie behaviour, thus offering a consistent explanation of the relationship between the two characters in Fanqie at one side and the initial, final, medial in Qieyun at the other side. By those principles the paper also discusses
some issues in Qieyun, such as Chongniu, the relationship between main vowels and rhyme items, attributes of Qieyun and the reconstruction of some Middle Chinese finals.
Key words: Fanqie behaviour, Fanqie principles, Chongniu, final reconstruction, attribute of Qieyun

Xing, Gongwan, The religion of Primitive Sino-Tibetan and the Primitive Sino-Tibetan Language (112)

There are vestiges of Primitive Wu (sorcery) religion in the customs of the Han, the Tibeto_Burman, the Dong_Thai, and the Miao_Yao nationalities. The words signifying Wu (sorcery) used in the languages of the four nationalities are corresponding in sound to each other, and it may probably be derived from an archaic language called Primitive Sino_Tibetan. The writing materials of the Primitive Wu religion are only a few. The writ in this paper draws from the ancient records the zhaohun (to call back the spirit of the dead), the xueji (killing domestic animal to offer gods or spirits), and the liaoji (burning firewood to offer Heaven) in the hope to expound the existence of the Primitive Sino_Tibetan.
Key words: Primitive Sino_Tibetan, wu(sorcery), zhaohun, xueji, liaoji

Gu, Yang & Shen, Yang, The derivation of synthetic compounds in Chinese (122)

This paper discusses the derivation of synthetic compounds in Chinese. It provides evidence to show that (i) the compounds are derived on the basis of argument structure of the root verbs and a number of changed argument structures of the root verbs; (ii) the various synthetic compounds are manifestations of relevant interface properties of the lexicon and syntax; (iii) the derivational mechanisms of synthetic compounds are distinct from those involved in syntactic derivations (despite the fact that these compounds exhibit mirror_images of their syntactic counterparts). The discussion captures the differentiation between word structure and sentence structure. It also demonstrates that theories of argument structure allow us to account for phenomena that are not easily explained by pure syntactic analyses.
Key words: synthetic compound, argument structure, interface of lexicon and syntax, lexical completeness, specific property of headword, raising and incorporation.

Wang, Hongyu, On the Formula "一A就C" (134)

This essay presents a new formula by the title of "一A就C". The author discovers that in the typical Chinese sentence pattern "一……就……", the middle item B does not necessarily serve as a link between the first item A and the last item C in semantic structure. Instead, it can be omitted in many cases. The essay offers a detailed analysis of the formula "一A就C", with its focus on the deep meaning it implies.
Key Words: complex sentence, the sentence pattern "一……就……", the middle item

Wang, Shaoxin, A comparative survey of the similarities and differences in word form of the lexicon in the Dream of Red Mansion and Modern lexicon (141)

Criticism seems to suggest no linguistic study on the Dream of Red Mansion, especially from the viewpoint of common words and favorite words, which are considered as an extremely fascinating feature of this book, this essay aims to present an in_depth study on the lexical variation from the late Chinese as exemplified in the Dream of Red Mansion to the modern Chinese, with its focus on the following six aspects in word form between the Lexical system in Late Chinese and Modern Chinese: l. isomorphism; 2.The same morphemes in reversed order; 3.the similar word forms and the same meanings; 4. Different word forms; 5.the monosyllables and the multi_syllables; 6.the different analyzability of the multi_syllables.
Key Words: the Dream of Red Mansion, word form

Zhang, Cheng, The historical word order change of prepositional phrases and verb object combination in Chinese (149)

In Archaic Chinese prepositional phrases which indicate location occur after verb_object combination, and sentences form the word_order of "V(verb) + O(object) + PP(prepositional phrases". Hoverer, the word_order is seldom used in Mandarin Chinese, and in Mandarin Chinese objects are shifted before verbs by preposition "Ba" under normal conditions, thus sentences form the word_order of "Ba + O + V + PP". And prepositional phrases that indicate location occur after verb_object combination only when objects are nouns modified by numeral_classifier compounds. This paper describes the course of the word_order change, and claims that it has become very strict since Yuan Dynasty and Ming Dynasty that there is only one syntactical component after a verb in Chinese.
Key words: location, prepositional phrase, verb_object combination, word order

Fang, Yixin, Notes on interpretations of words in Guanshiying yingyanji (《观世音应验记》) (156)

Jin, Jishi, Issues on jian_tuan yin and their corresponding phonetic notations in Korean literature (159)

The article, based on a thorough investigation of jian_tuan yin in Chinese rhyme books，and drawing on evidence from such Korean writings as Piaotongshi xinshi yanjie (1765), Han qing wenjian (1776), Chongkan laoqida yanjie (1795), Huayin qimeng yanjie and Huayu leichao (1883) , tries to date J、Q、X formation in Modern Chinese, claiming that 18 century is the transition period of the confluence of jian_tuan yin.
Key words: jian_tuan yin，sound of Modern Chinese ，Korean literature，data of Chinese and Korean phonetic notation

Yao, Yongming, Yiqiejing yinyi (《一切经音义》) and etymology (166)
Chen, Zhangtai, Formulation of the law of languages and writings and its features (169)
Wang, Chen,Chinese Pinyin and Taiwan's Tongyong Pinyin (172)
Li, Yanfeng, Comments on Taiwan's Tongyong Pinyin (175)
Liu, Lili, The linguistic variations of Hui People's religious names in Xinjiang (177)

The Hui people's religious names (jingming) are the linguistic results of the process of double dissimilation under the influence of both the Arabic and the Chinese languages. This article elaborates (a) the variations of linguistic structure and stylistic nuance in the process and (b) the linguistic factors and those of cultural background of the emerging of the variations.
Key Words: Hui people's religious names (jingming), linguistic variations, Arabic language, Chinese language

Zhou, Lei, Some words in Xinjiang Chinese dialect (185)
Yan, Xiuping, Interpretations of some classifiers in clothing books excavated in Tulufan (188)
Wang, Huayun, About the word ge (个) (155)
Wang, Sen, The click sounds in Gansu dialects (184)

Go To TOP

ZHONGGUO YUWEN, May, 2001, NO.3 (Volume 282)

Wan, William S-Y & Ke, Jinyun, A preliminary study on language emergence and simulation modeling (195)

Language emergence is one of the central issues in studying human language and human evolution. According to the recent findings from archaeology and genetics, we speculate that human language originated perhaps as recently as 50,000 or 60,000 years ago, with the emergence of our Most Recent Common Ancestors (MRCA). Complex languages of today must have emerged from simple structures, as the result of conventions accumulated in the course of communication. We employ the ideas and methods developed in disciplines for studying adaptive complex systems to explore the emergence of language, using the fact that humans have strong tendency to imitate. In this study we report a model that simulates how consistent vocabulary is reached in a population of individuals imitating each other. A mathematical analysis on the simulation result is also presented. Such simulation models appear to be an effective method to study the emergence of language.
Key words: language emergence, language origin, human origin, simulation, modeling

Zhang, Yisheng, The selective restrictions of "N + 们" and the expressive functions of "N们" (201)

In this paper, the selective restrictions of Chinese nouns attached men (们) are described in three aspects: prosody, semantics and pragmatics, and the variations of N + 们 are revealed by different functions in discourse. In Mandarin Chinese, men is not a grammatical category of plural but a expression emphasizing the referent as a group.
Key words: N + 们, selective restriction, expressive function

Shi, Chunhong, The descriptive features of nouns and the probability of adverbs modifying noun (212)

This article approaches the probability of adverbs modifying nouns from the perspective of semantic features of nouns. There are two semantic features involved: the essential feature and the descriptive feature. And the descriptive features are realized in four ways in discourse: conceptual implication, pragmatic implication, rhetoric implication and comparative implication. The descriptive features of nouns are the basis for adverb_noun combinations. And a concise interpretation is given for the conditions of adverb_noun combinations.
Key words: descriptive feature, adverb_noun combination

Wang, Sen, Word order in Donggan Chinese dialect (225)

Fu, Genqing, Modern pronunciation of ancient voiced consonants and natures of She dialect (230)

The pronunciation of the ancient voiced consonants is a commonly accepted important criterion for determining the nature of a given dialect. In She (a national minority) dialect of Jingning in Zhejiang province, the ancient voiced stops and affricates have been steadily and unconditionally changed to unaspirated voiceless consonants and aspirated voiceless consonants. This phenomenon may show that She dialect shares the characteristics of Min and Hakka dialect. However, when we examine the present_day pronunciation of the ancient voiced consonants with the concern of migration and environment, She dialect of Jingning should be categorized as a sub_dialect with its own characteristics and a close affinity to Min dialect.
Key words: She dialect in Jingning, ancient voiced consonants, natures of She dialect

Zhang, Weiyi, The characteristic of the Chongniu doublets in Jiyun (236)

An investigation is made on how the various Chongniu doublet pronunciations are converted into the definite Chongniu doublet xiaoyun of the Jiyun from Guangyun and the other previous phonological documents. It shows that the phonetic standard of the Chongniu doublets of the Northern Song Dynasty period is adopted in addition to that of Guangyun. The phonetic standard of Guangyun is absolutely in a much more dominant position than that of the Northern Song Dynasty period.
Key words: Jiyun, Guangyun, Chongniu doublets

Wei, Gangqiang, Problems existing in the fanqie phonetic notation in Hanyu Da Zidian (245)

Hanyu Da Zidian (汉语大字典) makes Medieval Chinese phonetic notations as well as current ones, yet it often errs in corresponding one with the other. The reason is that proper attention is not paid to the following fact: in the type of books as Guangyun (广韵), a lot of words have multiple fanqies (反切) with the same meaning due to the nature of this kind of books. It even refers to the fanqies which reflect the different pronunciations of a same word as leigeqie(类隔切) and yinheqie(音和切). This article consists of two parts. The first section discusses the relationship between the different fanqies in Guangyun and Jiyun (集韵). The second discusses the corresponding relationship between fanqie and current pronunciations.
Key words: dictionary compiling, Medieval Chinese pronunciation, fanqie phonetic notation

Feng, Chuntian, Some problems on the pronunciation of dialect words in Liaozhai Vulgar Verse (251)

Many dialect words come to being owing to local difference or territorial variation of the pronunciations. And the study of the pronunciation of words of Modern Chinese, especially the study of its late times, is meaningful for the historical study of Chinese vocabulary and linking up Modern Chinese with contemporary dialects. This paper analyses and discusses some pronunciations of dialect words (the form of local accent or the form of territorial sound_variation of vocabulary) in Liaozhai Vulgar Verse that reflect Shandong dialect in the joint period of Ming and Qing dynasty, including as follows: zan (咱), zhenme (这么), shenme (什［甚］么), zenme (怎么),mei (没), and mei ［men］ li (没［每、们］哩) as well as zuo (做), ge (个) and shi (时).
Key words: pronunciation of dialect words, Liaozhai Vulgar Verse

He, Yanan, Notes on some words in Medieval Chinese (258)

Wang, Jiangshe, About a new found version of Huiyin Miaowu (263)
Zhao, Cheng, Zhe (者) in bronze inscriptions (267)
Pan, Tianhua, Notes on Mengxi Bitan (269)
Pei, Yinhan, Birth time of Jiang Yougao (江有诰) (274)
Yang, Baozhong, About the Chinese character gou (勾) (276)
Yang, Yonglong, Further notes on eryizheye (而已者也) (278)
Xiao, Hong, Further notes on the word buting (不听) (279)
Lu, Liehong, Review on Study on forming word by changing tone in Chinese (280)
Fu, Huijun, About the word gei (给) in Jinpingmei Cihua (275)
Zeng, Liang, On the etymology of the word caoma (草马) (283)
Tan, Dailong, A punctuation problem in Annotation on Luoyang Qielanji (282)
Zhou, Zhifeng, About the word er (貮) (266)

Go To TOP

ZHONGGUO YUWEN, July, 2001, NO.4 (Volume 283)

Go To TOP

ZHONGGUO YUWEN, September, 2001, NO.5 (Volume 284)

Go To TOP

ZHONGGUO YUWEN, November, 2001, NO.6 (Volume 285)

Go To TOP

Welcome! You are the NO. GUEST coming to our website.

LAST UPDATE: 01-05-15 16:55:30
Created and maintenanced by Liu Xiangbo, PH. D.

Any advice or question, please send your e-mail to: webmaster@zgyw.freeservers.com