| Abstract |
The purpose of this study is to discuss the sentence pattern with shi是and zhi之occurring between the object and verb. Shi是and zhi之are focus markers, used for pragmatic reasons; they divide the sentence into two parts: topic and comment. In this way, the focus is highlighted. In the literature, the function of shi是and zhi之is treated either as a pronominal co-referring to the preposed object or as a particle for marking the preposed object. This paper supports the particle analysis of shi是 and zhi之and discusses this issue from three perspectives. The particle shi是and zhi之 originated as pronouns. The evolution from being a pronoun to being a particle first happened to shi是, and zhi之 was affected in anaology to shi是. The lexicon increment is an extension mechanism. In addition, a comparison of the usage of shi是and zhi之is conducted based on Shangshu, Shijing, Lunyu, Zuoshuan and Mengzi. An interesting result is that a mature, diversified and complex usage had been exhibited from the Chunqiu period to Zhanguo period. It is found that shi是 was mostly used in a structure with more than four words and that the pattern was generally formulated. Zhi之had two main types, namely,“O Zhi之 Wei謂” and“He何 O Zhi之You有”, the former expressing evaluative syntax and the latter expressing a rhetorical question. |
