What is it about?
This study explores the origin and usage of the Chinese adverb "ye" (也). It supports the idea that "ye" comes from the earlier form "yi" (亦), and treats both as the same word undergoing sound change. By analyzing historical texts, the study shows how "ye" first appeared in Middle Chinese as a continuation of "yi" and gradually developed into a commonly used adverb in Modern Chinese. The paper divides the functions of "ye" into two main types: (1) additive use, where it adds similar or parallel information in a sentence, and (2) modal use, where it expresses a sense of unexpectedness or contrast, depending on whether it goes against the speaker’s or listener’s expectations. The shift from additive to modal meaning is explained by two factors: the implicit similarity in the speaker’s mind, and the influence of contexts that involve surprise or contradiction. This research helps us understand how language forms can change in meaning over time through use and context.
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Why is it important?
This study makes three key contributions. First, it demonstrates that the Old Chinese adverb yi (亦) and the Modern Chinese adverb ye (也) both express additive meaning, and that ye is a phonological development of yi. Second, it shows how yi and ye participate in various syntactic constructions—such as concessive, unconditional, and lian-constructions—each associated with different meanings. Third, in order to maintain consistency in classification, the study redefines the uses of yi and ye into two categories: additive and modal. It reclassifies the unconditional construction under additive use, while placing the lian- and concessive constructions under modal use. These modal uses, including those in simple sentences, are defined by their function of expressing expectations that are violated from the speaker's or listener’s perspective. By drawing on historical texts, the study provides a diachronic explanation for the shift from additive to modal meaning. This approach not only clarifies the grammatical behavior of ye and yi, but also offers a broader perspective on how meaning changes through usage and context in language evolution.
Perspectives
This study aims to fill a gap in the diachronic analysis of the Chinese adverb ye (也), which has often been discussed primarily from a synchronic perspective. While previous research has acknowledged the historical origins of ye, systematic evidence and argumentation have been limited. Even studies adopting a diachronic approach tend to focus on its etymology rather than the development of its grammatical functions and meanings. Some earlier accounts propose that ye derives from the sentence-final particle through reanalysis, but this study reevaluates such claims and finds them syntactically and functionally unconvincing. Drawing on historical textual data and building on established classifications, this paper argues that ye originated as a phonological variant of yi (亦) and retains semantic continuity. It reconstructs the pathway by which ye evolved from an additive to a modal adverb, clarifying its distribution across constructions and functional categories. By closely examining the diachronic development of ye, this study offers a more comprehensive linguistic account of its grammaticalization process.
Yi-Chen Lin
Soochow Universit
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: 從類同到情態, Language and Linguistics 語言暨語言學, March 2025, John Benjamins,
DOI: 10.1075/lali.00204.lin.
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