A Study Of Semantic Classification Of Nouns In "ER PAI"

In this paper, basing on the nouns and language processing of data of “Er Pai”, I establish alexical database and a noun lexical database of “Er Pai”; make statistical analysis of the wordfrequency of the two databases; build a static semantic system of "Er Pai"; analyse semanticclassification of nouns of “Er Pai”; and then state my understanding of the social outlook and sociallife of Ming dynasty by observing the language phenomenon. Specific conclusions are made asfollows:The results of both lexical analysis and noun lexical analysis show that two-syllable word is inthe ascendant in quantity, and that the utilization rate of one-syllable word is much higher thantwo-syllable word in coverage. It is in line with the development trend of modern Chinese, i.e.developing from one-syllable word to multi-syllable word. I classify the nouns of “Er Pai” into120semantic categories basing on the combining standards of semantic classifications, mainlyreferencing “semantic classification system of905Project” by Mr.Zhan Weidong. The staticsemantic system basically covers all categories of nouns of “Er Pai”. The rich semanticclassifications provides direct language materals for understanding the social development of the lateMing dynasty. I describe the semantic classifications of nouns of “Er Pai” with relavant knowledgeof social linguistics combining with historical background, and then summarize some socialsituations of the late Ming dynasty from “Er Pai”: the late Ming dynasty was a commercial society;the interpersonal relationship was secular; and the ethics impacted the society deeply.