SYNTACTIC-SEMANTIC CHANGE IN CHINESE: PROCESSES OF ANALOGY, REANALYSIS, EXTERNAL BORROWING / 中文的句法语义变化：类比、再分析及外来词借用的处理

• Published in: Journal of Chinese Linguistics Monograph Series 2017-01 (27), p.191-221
• Main Authors: Peyraube, Alain, 贝罗贝
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2409-2878

This paper discusses some of the most hotly debated topics over the past few years on syntactic-semantic change in a functional-cognitive perspective and proposes a new model of grammatical change in Chinese by providing more solidly-based definitions of such notions as “grammaticalization”， “lexicalization”， “degrammaticalization”， “exaptation”, “reanalysis”， and “analogy” with respect to internal processes of change as well as external ones, specifically, borrowing through language contact or contact-induced change. It will be proposed that this model is constituted by just two internal mechanisms: reanalysis and analogy. Consequently, it will be argued that grammaticalization – which has been by far the focus of most of the studies on historical grammar in recent decades – is secondary. The processes of grammaticalization, lexicalization and exaptation will thus be viewed as sub-classes of reanalysis, while some “degrammaticalization，”/lexicalization processes will be more aptly viewed as a sub-class of analogy. The main motivations （if not genuine explanations) for grammatical change will also be discussed, i.e. semantic-pragmatic change, including mainly metaphorical extension, pragmatic inferencing or metonymization and (inter-) subjectification, as well as others, such as phonological change. Concerning the third – and external – mechanism of change, it will be shown that the several universals and principles ofborrowing that have been proposed remain rather ill-defined. 本文从功能认知的角度讨论过去几年来争论最热烈的句法语意变化问题，并提出一个关于中文语法变化的模型。该模型为基于变化的内在处理和外部处理，尤其是语言接触导致的借用或者由接触引起的变化的语法化、词汇化、去语法化、扩展适应、再分析与类比等概念提供更具体的定义。