The Meaning and Usage of Marker “Kai” in the Ingressive Aspect of Xi’an Dialect
Abstract
In the Xi’an dialect of China, the auxiliary word “Kai(开)” is often used after a verb or adjective, indicating the beginning of a certain behavior or a certain state, which is a Ingressive Aspect marker. The combination of Verb and “Kai” has two coexisting structures, which is “Verb+ Kai + Object” and “Verb + Object + Kai”. The usage of the two forms are similar but different, and is closely related to the “Verb + Complement + Object” and “Verb + Object + Complement” structures in the ancient Chinese. When adjectives are combined with and “Kai”, only qualitative adjectives can be used. The grammaticalization path of the aspect marker “Kai” was that it was first derived from the notional verb to the use of the complement, thereby developing into the marker of the Ingressive aspect.
References
- K Luo. A Multiple-Perspective Study of ‘Kai as an Ingressive Marker in the Dialect of Ningxian, Gansu Province[D]. Central China Normal University, 2011.
- T Cao. The Tense Expression System of Linyi Dialect and its Comparative Study with Guanzhong Dialect[D]. Shaanxi Normal University, 2016.
- L N Meng. The Original State Hui Chinese Dialect “Starting” in Chinese Physical Utterances[J]. Journal of Jiamusi Vocational Institute, 2015(10), 369+371.
- J R Wang. An Analysis of”Kai”in Urumqi Dialect[J]. Language and Translation, 2003(04), 31-34.
- S X Lv. The Modern Chinese Eight Hundred Words[M]. Beijing,China: The Commercial Press, 2019.
- J H Wang. Xi’an Dialect Dictionary[M]. Nanjing,China: Jiangsu Education Press, 1996.
- D Q Liu. Handbook of Grammar research[M]. Shanghai,China: Shanghai Education Press, 2019.
- S Y Jiang, G S Cao. A Review on the History of Modern Times Chinese Grammar[M]. Beijing,China: The Commercial Press, 2005.
- B H Lan. A Study of Xi’an Dialect Grammar[M]. Beijing,China: Zhonghua Book Company, 2011.
- X D Xing. A Study of Shenmu Dialect[M]. Beijing,China: Zhonghua Book Company, 2002.