| There is a word “Tian(添)” commonly found in some Chinese dialects and ethnic languages.It can be used as a verb,an adverb and a SFP.Among them,the function of “Tian(添)” in Cantonese is particularly typical and has received a lot of attention from scholars.However,the current research mainly focuses on Cantonese in Guangzhou and Hong Kong,and less on Cantonese in Guangxi.Therefore,the situation of “Tian(添)” in Cantonese in Guangxi is not yet known,and there are still some unresolved questions: What are the functions of “Tian(添)” in Cantonese in Guangxi? What is the distribution of each function of “Tian(添)”? What are the differences between “Tian(添)” in Cantonese and “Tian(添)” in Wu dialect,Zhuang language and other dialects / languages? What is the grammaticalization process of “Tian(添)”?Using the field research method,this paper describes the functions of“Tian(添)”in Guangfu Pian(广府片),Yongxun Pian(邕浔片),Qinlian Pian(钦廉片)and Goulou Pian(勾漏片)and Pinghua in the south of Guangxi,and compares the“Tian(添)”in Cantonese,Wu and Zhuang dialects/languages across dialects/languages through the comparative method.The following conclusions were drawn:(1)As a verb,“Tian(添)”has one meanings,the original meaning of“add”.And the meaning is used in Guangfu Pian(广府片),Qinlian Pian(钦廉片)and Goulou Pian(勾漏片)and Pinghua in the south of Guangxi.As a postpositional adverb,“Tian(添)"has a meaning of“append”and is used in Guangfu Pian(广府片),Yongxun Pian(邕浔片)and Goulou Pian(勾漏片.As a SFP,“Tian(添)”has two semantic references,one is to express the increment of argumentation and the other is Mirativity.The former is used in Guangfu Pian(广府片)and Goulou Pian(勾漏片)while the latter is used in Guangfu Pian(广府片)and Goulou Pian(勾漏片).(2)Compared with other dialects/languages,“Tian(添)” in Cantonese in Guangxi has its own characteristics.First of all,compared with Wu dialect,Cantonese in Guangxi “Tian(添)” has richer functions and deeper fiction,but the meaning items of Cantonese in Guangxi “Tian(添)”as a postpositive adverb are more than those of “Tian(添)” in Wu dialect.When compared with Zhuang language,“Tian(添)” in Cantonese in Guangxi has less functions and less items when “Tian(添)” is used as a postposition adverb;when compared with other Chinese dialects such as Hakka dialect,Gan dialect and Hui dialect,“Tian(添)” in Cantonese in Guangxi has more functions and more items.Compared with other Chinese dialects such as Hakka dialect,Gan dialect and Hui dialect,the function of“Tian(添)” in Cantonese in Guangxi is more,and the meaning of “Tian(添)” as a postpositional adverb is less.(3)Under the influence of Pinghua,the postpositive adverb “Tian(添)” is gradually replaced by “Xian(先)” in Cantonese,and express the meaning of “append ”.(4)“Tian(添)” has undergone two grammaticalization paths:“verb > postpositional adverb > SFP” and “verb > accompanying preposition >parallel conjunction”.To sum up,this paper has comprehensively sorted out the functions of“Tian(添)” in Guangxi Cantonese.The “Tian(添)” morpheme is widely found in various languages in the world,and it has multiple functions in general.Therefore,it is important to study the multifunctionality of “Tian(添)” morphemes from a typological perspective,and the results of this paper will facilitate cross-linguistic comparisons and linguistic commonalities of “Tian(添)” morphemes. |
