指示代词“是”的特质及其发展

作为指示代词,"是"最初指代的是时间,相当于"这时",后泛化为一个确指代词。正因为"是"的确指性,它在先秦时期有一系列的特殊用法。并最终发展成为系词。当用于判断句的主谓之间复指主语的时候,"是"逐步语法化为近乎强调确认的标记。当判断句中必须出现"是",并且"是"的出现不带有任何强调的意味的时候,它就发展成为系词。

The Characteristics of Demonstrative Pronoun "shi" and Its Evolvement

As a demonstrative pronoun,"shi" denoted time and was equivalent to "this time" at first.Afterwards,it became a confirming pronoun.Because of its confirming nature,"shi" had a series of special uses in the pre-Qin period.At last "shi" evolved into a copula.When "shi" lay between subject and predicate to demonstrate subject in compound predicate,it was close to a stressing and confirming sign.When "shi" was necessary in compound predicate,it had become a copula.At that time,"shi" did not have any stressing implication.