Research On The Trend Of Chinese-character Root Affixation

In 1986,Shen Mengying presented his observation on the trend of Chinese character root affixation, since then, his views have been widely accepted by academic circles, however more research is required because of its special and complexity. The thesis does some tries in analyzing its characteristics and reasons. In the light of the instruction of grammaticalization Theory and Vocabulary Theory and the analysis of some root affixation morphemes, the author advances that it is characterized that it is from low to high in the degree of losing meaning as a real word, and it bears classification and grade orders. The author also discusses the main reasons for the trend of root affixation as follows: the frequent-using of these, the weakening of meaning as a word, the change of world-building environment, the classification and social psychology and so on.In the first part of the thesis, the author analyzes and describes the main trends of root affixation and defines the main types from synchronic and diachronic perspectives. The author suggests that in the process of affixation the meaning of a word root will be getting weaken, may eventually lose its original meaning. A change from a syntactic function to a vocabulary function, leads to some morphemes losing their independent usage as a sticky component and thus they may not work as a functional part in making a phrase or sentence.In the second part of this thesis, the author discusses the main characteristics of the trend in root affixation. The author analyzes the process of root affixation and the degree of changes, and reviews how the meaning of a root as a real word will weaken, change it. Then, because a morpheme will lose its independent ability in using, whatever the morpheme is a free one or not, so most of these morphemes have to stick to a root morpheme. The changing and continuous process of root affixation has characterized the order in gradual change of grammar function and the weakening of word's meaning.The final section presents the main reasons that a root can change into an affix, with a particular focus on the vocabulary system and social psychology. High frequent usage is the key to the weakening meaning as a real word. Eventually, the root may change into an affixation. According to the type of a root, more words will change and may form word-groups that are used more frequently. As language roots itself in society and serves human development, it is also influenced by changes in society and human psychology. Root affixation is affected by these changes.In conclusion, the author draws a brief conclusion and presents the theoretical meaning of the research on root affixation.