A Study On Syntax Subjects Of Chinese In Yuan Dynasty

The thesis selected thirteen kinds of reliable language materials which can definitely mirror spoken language in Yuan Dynasty, exhaustively investigated four syntax subjects as follows : Interrogative sentences,Metaphors,the Disposal Struction and the Passive Form, unveiled the processes of these important syntax phenomena in Yuan Dynasty and the location they seated in the research of Chinese Language History.The definite questions in official document mostly express real question, but in traditional operas they often ask in retort. The alternative questions in southern officialdom usually use conjunction, but in northern officialdom they mostly use tone words"Na(那)","Ye(也)"and"Ye na(也那)"between two choice limbs. Some alternative questions appear unusual: The multiple alternative questions have more than two choice limbs which structure types are not ususlly uniform; Definite- alternative question has double focus—choice limbs and interrogative pronoun; The limited alternative question set a selected range for choice limbs and raises questions by interrogative pronoun;"(bu()不) VP na(那)zenme/shenme(怎么/什么)"should be a result of language contact. The Metaphors in Yuan Dynasty contain three forms: A. (thing-in-itself)(本体)+likening verb(像义动词)+vehicles(喻体)+likening auxiliaries(比拟助词); B. (thing-in-itself)+vehicles+likening auxiliaries; C. (thing-in-itself)+likening verbs+vehicles, the preceding is full form , the other two are simplified forms. Metaphors are more abundant in Zhijiang(直讲) document,three kinds of Nanxi(南戏) and《Yuanza(元杂)》than in decree and statute document. Three kinds of Nanxi(南戏) almost only use type C and seldom use Metaphor auxiliaries. In northern document,《Tonglue(通略)》and《Yuanza(元杂)》are similar, they both use more Metaphor auxiliaries though type C is still absolute predominant; the different between them is《Tonglue(通略)》use more type A but《Yuanza(元杂)》use more type B.《Lao(老)》,《Tiaoge(条格)》,《Yuanbei(元碑)》,《Dian(典)》and《Xiao(孝)》nearly only use type B. Metaphor auxiliary"Yesi(也似)"is only used in Northern document.The structure of predicates is variable in"Jiang(将)"and"Ba(把)"marked Disposal Structions, includes: coordinate verbs,verbal constructions in Series,compound sentences,complex combination between a verb and a prefix or a suffix. The distribution of"Jiang(将)"and"Ba(把)"marked Disposal Structions is not proportionate,"Ba(把)"marked sentences are almost not used in official document, it probably because "Jiang(将)"sentences are more elegant than"Ba(把)"sentence.The Passive Form in Yuan Dynasty can be differentiated into two system: one is"Bei(被)"marked sentence,"Zao(遭)"marked sentence,"Chi(吃)"marked sentence and"Meng(蒙)"marked sentence, which passive prepositions came from verbs with the meaning of"bearing"; the other is"Jiao(教/交)"marked sentence and"Zhuo(着)"marked sentence, which passive prepositions came from verbs with the meaning of"causative". The passive preposition"Zhuo(着)"derive not from meaning of"bearing", but from meaning of"causative"."Meng(蒙)"marked sentence is a kind of"modest passive form", it appears a little elegant and mainly expresses positive significance which commonly appear in solemn situation. There're still other special kinds of"Bei(被)"marked sentences in Yuan Dynasty:"mixed type"is a result mingled by passive forms which stand for different historical levels;"bearing type"express the subject suffered a incident which give him direct influence; in"Bei(被)"sentences which express reason the subjects are commonly couched and followed by resultative clause.