Studies in the Grammar of Early Archaic Chinese

Abstract

Abstract1. Wei occurs between formally complete sentences, with equal probability of indicating coordinate or conditioned sequence. (Empirically replaceable without change of reference in LAC by yu or tsê ). 2. Wei introduces Time and Place indications. (Empirically replaceable in EAC without change of reference by tsai ). 3. Wei occurs in delegation of agency. (Empirically EAC "Verb/ Delegating Agent/wei" = LAC "Agent/wei/Agent/Verb"). 4. Wei determines verb for modality "wishing and willing" (cf. subjunctive use of in LAC). 5. Wei occurs as restrictive of nouns, "to the exclusion of all else", only", or verbs "merely", and of post-posited elements via the verb "only" (as also it is preserved unchanged in LAC). 6. Wei occurs as verb "to think of", "ponder over" (cf. szu ) and "to wish for, yearn for" (cf. yüan ) (cf. LAC yi-wei "think of as"). 7. Wei occurs as copula in determinative sentences in regular (A/B), reversed (B/A) and modal forms. (Replaceable by shih in LAC where wei as copula is modal). 8. Wei is polar counterpart of fei "it is not so" contra "it is so"; "it is not because" contra "it is because". (Replaceable by shih in LAC, which does not occur in this usage in EAC). 9. Wei, in cause and consequence sequences, introduces cause, whether cause is distributed as wei/cause/consequence, or consequence/wei/cause, or Agent/wei cause/verb (cf. use of wei in LAC in causal sequences).