| In this paper, the author focuses her research on modern Chinese Affix the "old" The study contains its synchronic performance, virtual-based process, virtual motivation and virtual mechanism for the "old".Firstly, the author gives the "old" a comprehensive description of its synchronicity, she classifies affix the "old" into four categories, the prefix alleged human, the prefix alleged animal, the prefix alleged things, and the suffix alleged people. The usage of "old" as a prefix to refer to people is comparatively complex; therefore, according to the additional categories of the prefix "old", the author classifies its usage into five detailed categories for description and analysis. It is found that affix the "old" usually has different additional significance, showing a variety of emotional colors, and the various virtualities of the affix "old" shows inconsistently.Then, from the perspective of diachrony, the author systematically outlined the virtuality course of the affixes "old". We believe that it is Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties period that began the embryonic stage of the affix "old"; during Tang and Song Dynasties, the affix "old" began the stage in which it evoluted from Content Words, there has been by the prefix "old" posed by the allegations, as well as animals and things, and the word "old" as suffix; In the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, the affix "old" virtualized actively, to the peak.Finally, from the semantic system, rhythm environmental constraints and cognitive dynamics, the author discusses the virtual motives and virtual-based mechanism of the affix "old". In the semantic system, the generalization and differentiation of the meaning of "old" and the re-analysis of "old" and its composition are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. In the constrainted rhythmic environment, the integration of the two-toned rhythm played a great role in the formation of the affixes "old". In cognitive motivation, the metaphors and analogies are also the important factors of the formation of the affix "old". These factors are interwoven and mutually conditional, and they jointly promoted the grammaticalization of the affixes "old" occurrence and development. |
