‘牛’의 문법화와 역문법화 현상

Abstract

This paper examinestheuseoftheChinesesyllable‘牛’and its process of grammaticalization in the modern Chinese language. In addition, investigates the extended meaning of ‘牛’ used in the Internet language, shifting in its use to a new grammatical function and degrammaticalization. First, before an in-depth analysis, this paper clarifies grammaticalization and degrammaticalization in the general linguistics. Grammaticalization is a process of language change by which individual words become grammatical markers. However, degrammaticalization refers to the reverse of the aforementioned process. Second, this paper examines the use of ‘牛’ and its process of grammaticalization in the modern Chinese language. The Chinese syllable ‘牛’ is used as a noun, but it is also used as an adjective in today’s Chinese language. As a noun, it means a ‘cow’ while as an adjective ‘stubborn’ and ‘arrogant’. In the process of meaning extension of ‘牛’ from noun to adjective, metaphor, metonymy, decategorization, and stratification are used. Third, the ‘牛’ structure as the Internet language has been used with extended meaning and use, and ‘牛’ was mainly used to indicate ‘excellent talent’ of a person or an object. In this case, ‘牛’ is used as a separate unit, but it is also used as the ‘牛B’, ‘牛X’, and ‘牛X的人’ forms and coins a new word by combining with diverse form of N. In the Internet language, ‘牛’ is mainly used as an adjective. Moreover, it is used as an adverb and takes the form of quasi-affix to formulate a new word. This can be seen as shift in its use to a new grammatical function, and from the perspective of grammaticalization direction, that has improved in the single direction. Meanwhile, the ‘牛’ structure tends to act as verb, and this is explained by degrammaticalization of the Internet language in this study.