Cover not available
Article published In:
Language and Linguistics
Vol. 23:4 (2022) ► pp.601–643

The origin and the development of 焉 yān in Old Chinese

An example of Trans-East Asian linguistic study

| Korea University

The Old Chinese function word 焉 yān is frequently interpreted as a fusion of [於 (‘at/on/in’) + 此 (near demonstrative pronoun)] in terms of its meaning. Ever since Kennedy (1940a, b; 1953) argued that 焉 is a fusion of [於 + *an (third-person pronoun)], it has been controversial as to exactly which third-person pronoun/demonstrative pronoun *an corresponds to in Old Chinese. There is no third-person pronoun/demonstrative pronoun that is appropriate for this reconstruction.

This paper illustrates how 焉 *Ɂan is a fusion of 於 *Ɂa and *niɁ; *nih or *nɔɁ; *nɔh, which means ‘this’ in Proto-Austroasiatic (PAA). The demonstrative is borrowed into Chinese through language contact in the Early Archaic Chinese period (10th to 6th c. BC). This fusion is plausible in historical and phonological terms, while the grammaticalization path of 焉 also accords with that of [於 + demonstrative].

The grammaticalization path of 焉 is examined by analyzing all occurrences of it in the Bronze Inscriptions (BI), The book of odes (Shījīng 詩經), The book of documents (Shàngshū 尚書), and Zuo’s commentary (Zuǒzhuàn 左傳). Also, the usages of its etymological doublet 爰, which is considered to be a fusion of [于 *wa (‘at/on/in’) + near demonstrative pronoun], are analyzed in order to strengthen the argument.

Keywords: 焉 , Old Chinese reconstruction, Proto-Austroasiatic, language contact, borrowing, grammaticalization
Article outline
  • 1.Summary of previous studies on 焉
    • 1.1The usages of 焉 in Old Chinese
    • 1.2The origin of 焉
  • 2.Origin of *n: Sino-Tibetan or Austroasiatic?
    • 2.1Evaluating the possibility of a Sino-Tibetan origin for *n
    • 2.2Evaluating the possibility of an Austroasiatic origin for *n
      • 2.2.1The Austroasiatic languages: Introduction
      • 2.2.2Subgrouping of the Austroasiatic languages
      • 2.2.3The homeland of Austroasiatic languages
      • 2.2.4PAA word for ‘this’ and its reflexes in modern AA languages
  • 3.The occurrences of 爰 and 焉 in Archaic Chinese texts
    • 3.1 爰 in The book of documents and in The book of odes
      • 3.1.1 The book of documents
        • [ 爰 meaning 援 ‘pull by hand, aid’]
        • [ 爰 interpreted as 于時 ‘thereupon’ (s-and)]
        • [ 爰 used as a loanword for 曰 ‘say, is called’]
      • 3.1.2 爰 in The book of odes
        • [ 于 + anaphoric pronoun]
        • [ 爰 interpreted as 于時 ‘thereupon’ (s-and)]
        • [ 爰 interpreted as ‘where’]
    • 3.2 焉 in The book of documents and in The book of odes
      • 3.2.1 焉 in The book of documents
        • [ 於 + anaphoric pronoun]
        • [Adverbial suffix (equivalent to 然)]
      • 3.2.2 焉 in The book of odes
        • [ 於 + anaphoric pronoun]
        • [ 焉 used as an s-and ]
        • [ 焉 used as a question word ‘where’]
        • [ 焉 used as a sentence-final particle]
    • 3.3 焉 in Zuo’s commentary and Late Archaic Chinese texts
      • 3.3.1 焉 (= [於 + anaphoric pronoun]) shows a wide range of meaning
      • 3.3.2 焉 used as a question word ‘where’ or as a rhetorical question marker
      • 3.3.3 焉 used as a sentence-final modal particle
        • Previous studies on 焉 as a sentence-final particle
        • The use of 焉 as a sentence-final modal particle in Zuo’s commentary
        • [必/將/其…焉]: ‘It is certainly…’/ ‘It will…’/ ‘It is probably…’
        • [A如/猶B焉 ]: ‘It would be like…’
        • [ 有/無…焉 ]: ‘There would be (no)…’
        • [ 何…焉 ] ‘How…?’
  • 4.The grammaticalization path of 焉
    • 4.1Demonstrative (+ other element) > s-and
    • 4.2 焉 used as a question word
    • 4.3[於 + anaphoric pronoun] to sentence-final modal particle
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
Available under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 license.

For any use beyond this license, please contact the publisher at [email protected].

Published online: 12 October 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/lali.00117.cha
References
Anderson, Gregory D. S.
2007 The Munda verb: Typological perspectives (Trends in Linguistics Studies and Monographs 174). Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Bellwood, Peter
2013 First migrants: Ancient migration in global perspective. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.Google Scholar
Benedict, Paul K.
1972 Sino-Tibetan: A conspectus. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Chang, Jung-Im
2012 Yú and yū: Their origins, their grammaticalization, and the process of encroachment of the former by the latter from a historical perspective. Seattle: University of Washington. (Doctoral dissertation.)
2019 Godae Haneo heosa eoneui pumsa yeongu [On the part of speech of Old Chinese function word yān ]. Jungeo Jungmunhak [Journal of Chinese Language and Literature] 2019(3). 181–207.Google Scholar
Coblin, South W.
1986 A sinologist’s handlist of Sino-Tibetan lexical comparisons (Monumenta Serica Monograph Series 18). Nettetal: Steyler Verlag.Google Scholar
Cui, Libin
2004 Mengzi cilei yanjiu [Study on parts of speech in Mencius ]. Kaifeng: Henan University Press.Google Scholar
Dictionary Editing Office, Institute of Linguistics, Chinese Academy of Social Science
1996[1978] Xiandai Hanyu cidian [Contemporary Chinese dictionary]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Google Scholar
Diessel, Holger
1999 Demonstratives: Form, function and grammaticalization (Typological Studies in Language 42). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Diffloth, Gérard
1979 Aslian languages and Southeast Asian prehistory. Federation Museums Journal (24). 3–16.Google Scholar
2005 The contribution of linguistic palaeontology to the homeland of Austro-Asiatic. In Blench, Roger & Sagart, Laurent & Sanchez-Mazas, Alicia (eds.), The peopling of East Asia: Putting together archaeology, linguistics and genetics, 77–80. Oxon: RoutledgeCurzon. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Ding, Hongjie & Yu, Xiuzhong
2008 Shi “yuan” – jian yu Tang Lan shangque [The annotation of yuan – A discussion with Mr. Tanglan]. Guilin Shifan Gaodeng Zhuanke Xuexiao Xuebao [Journal of Guilin Normal College] 2008(3). 55–57.Google Scholar
Eberhard, David M. & Simons, Gary F. & Fennig, Charles D.
(eds.) 2022 Ethnologue: Languages of the world. 25th edn. Dallas: SIL International. ([URL]) (Accessed 2019-04-09.)
Fang, Youguo
2015 Xian Qin Hanyu shici yufahua yanjiu [Study on the grammaticalization of content words in pre-Qin Chinese]. Chengdu: Bashu Publishing.Google Scholar
Gao, Ming
1996 Boshu Laozi jiaozhu [Laozi silk manuscript, with collated commentaries]. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.Google Scholar
Guan, Huiyun
2006 Gu Hanyu “yan” zi yanjiu [Study on the word yan in Old Chinese]. Guangxi Minzu Daxue Xuebao (Zhexue Shehui Kexue Ban) [Journal of Guangxi University for Nationalities (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition)] 2006(S2). 121–123.Google Scholar
Guan, Shufa
1986 “Yan” bing fei jianci–jianlun jianci xingcheng de tiaojian [ Yan is by no means a function word–and a discussion of the conditions of the formation of a function word]. Liaoning Daxue Xuebao [Journal of Liaoning University] 1986(1). 15–18.Google Scholar
Guo, Xiliang
1988 Xian Qin yuqici xintan (yi) [Newly exploring the modal particles in pre-Qin (part 1)]. Gu Hanyu Yanjiu [Research in Ancient Chinese Language] 1988(1). 50–55.Google Scholar
1989 Xian Qin yuqici xintan (er) [Newly exploring the modal particles in pre-Qin (part 2)]. Gu Hanyu Yanjiu [Research in Ancient Chinese Language] 1989(1). 74–82.Google Scholar
Guo, Xiliang & Tang, Zuofan & He, Jiuying & Jiang, Shaoyu & Tian, Ruijuan
1991 Gudai Hanyu (Xiuding ben) [Old Chinese (Revised version)]. Tianjin: Tianjin Educational Press.Google Scholar
Harris, Alice C. & Campbell, Lyle
1995 Historical syntax in cross-linguistic perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
He, Leshi
2004[1989] Zuozhuan de “yan” [ Yan in Zuo’s commentary ]. Zuozhuan xuci yanjiu [Study on the function words in Zuo’s commentary ], 319–369. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Google Scholar
Heine, Bernd & Kuteva, Tania
2002 World lexicon of grammaticalization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Hopper, Paul J. & Traugott, Elizabeth Closs
2003 Grammaticalization. 2nd edn. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Karlgren, Bernhard
1950a The book of odes: Chinese text, transcription and translation by Bernhard Karlgren. Stockholm: The Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities.Google Scholar
1950b The book of documents. Göteborg: Elanders Boktryckeri Aktiebolag. (Reprinted from the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Bulletin 22, Stockholm 1950.)Google Scholar
Kennedy, George A.
1940a A study of the particle yen: A. Its meaning. Journal of the American Oriental Society 60(1). 1–22. (Reprinted in Li, Tien-yi (ed.) 1964 Selected works of George A. Kennedy, 27–78. New Haven: Far Eastern Publications, Yale University.)Google Scholar
1940b A study of the particle yen: B. Its form. Journal of the American Oriental Society 60(2). 193–207. (Reprinted in Li, Tien-yi (ed.) 1964 Selected works of George A. Kennedy, 27–78. New Haven: Far Eastern Publications, Yale University.)Google Scholar
1953 Another note on yen . Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies 16(1–2). 226–235. (Reprinted in Li, Tien-yi (ed.) 1964 Selected works of George A. Kennedy, 199–212. New Haven: Far Eastern Publications, Yale University.) DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Kroll, Paul W.
2015 A student’s dictionary of Classical and Medieval Chinese. Leiden: Brill.Google Scholar
Langacker, Ronald W.
1977 Syntactic reanalysis. In Li, Charles N. (ed.), Mechanisms of syntactic change, 57–139. Austin: University of Texas Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Legge, James
1960[1872] The Chinese classics: With a translation, critical and exegetical notes, prolegomena, and copious indexes, volume 5: The Ch’un ts’ew with the Tso chuen. London: Trübner. (Reprinted in 1960 by Hong Kong University Press.)Google Scholar
The Center for the Study and Application of Chinese Characters, East China Normal University
2001 Jinwen yinde (yi): Yin Shang Xi Zhou juan [Indexes of bronze inscriptions (1): Volume on Yin, Shang, and Western Zhou]. Nanning: Guangxi Educational Publishing House.Google Scholar
2002 Jinwen yinde (er): Chunqiu Zhanguo juan [Indexes of bronze inscriptions (2): Volume on Spring & Autumn and the Warring States period]. Nanning: Guangxi Educational Publishing House.Google Scholar
Li, Meiyan
2012 Yiwen daici “wu” “an” “yan” de yufahua [Grammaticalization of interrogative pronouns wu, an, and yan ]. Hubei Social Sciences 2012(4). 116–119.Google Scholar
Li, Zihao
2011 Xi Shijing zhong de “yuan” [Analyzing yuan in The book of odes ]. Yuwen Xuekan [Journal of Language and Literature Studies] 2011(9). 93–94.Google Scholar
Liu, Chunping
2007 Zhanguo shidai yiwen daici “wu, an, yan” [On the interrogative pronouns wu, an, yan in the Warring States period]. Pingdingshan Xueyuan Xuebao [Journal of Pingdingshan University] 2007(4). 104–6.Google Scholar
Liu, Li & Li, Xiaojun
2007 Zhuguanxing yu yuqici “yan” de yufahua [Subjectivity and the grammaticalization of the particle yan ]. Hanyushi Yanjiu Jikan [Studies on the History of Chinese Language] 101. 414–430.Google Scholar
2013 Xianqin zhi Tang Wudai yuqici de laiyuan ji yansheng guilü [The generation and develop principles of modal particles from pre-Qin to Tang-Wudai dynasties]. Hanyushi Xuebao [Journal of Chinese Language History] 131. 4–16.Google Scholar
Lü, Shuxiang
1990[2004] Lü Shuxiang wenji (Di yi juan): Zhongguo wenfa yaolüe [Collection of the works by Lü Shuxiang (First volume): Outline of Chinese grammar]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Google Scholar
Lü, Shuxiang & Wang, Haifen
(eds.) 1986 Mashi wentong duben [Textbook on Ma’s grammar ]. Shanghai: Shanghai Educational Publishing House.Google Scholar
Ma, Kedong
2006 Xian Qin Hanyu “yuan” “yan” de yitong ji qi yanbian guiji [The similarities and differences between yuan and yan and their orbits of developing in the pre-Qin period Chinese]. Qinzhou Shifan Gaodeng Zhuanke Xuexiao Xuebao [Journal of Qinzhou Normal College] 2006(2). 51–55. (The name of this journal has changed to Journal of Beibu Gulf University since 2019.)Google Scholar
Mei, Guang
2018 Shanggu Hanyu yufa gangyao [An outline of Classical Chinese grammar]. Shanghai: Shanghai Educational Publishing House.Google Scholar
Norman, Jerry
1988 Chinese. New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Norman, Jerry & Mei, Tsu-Lin
1976 The Austroasiatics in ancient south China: Some lexical evidence. Monumenta Serica 32(1). 274–301. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Palmer, F. R.
1986 Mood and modality. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Peiros, Ilia
2011 Some thoughts on the problem of the Austro-Asiatic homeland. Journal of Language Relationship 61. 101–113. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Peyraube, Alain & Wu, Fuxiang
2000 Shanggu Hanyu yiwen daici de fazhan yu yanbian [Development and evolution of interrogative pronouns in Archaic Chinese]. Zhongguo Yuwen [Studies of the Chinese Language] 2000(4). 311–326.Google Scholar
Pulleyblank, Edwin G.
1995 Outline of classical Chinese grammar. Vancouver: UBC Press.Google Scholar
Qu, Wanli
1983a Shangshu jishi [Collected annotations on The book of documents ]. Taipei: Liansheng Press.Google Scholar
1983b Shijing quanshi [Comprehensive annotations on The book of odes ]. Taipei: Linking Publishing.Google Scholar
Sagart, Laurent
2011 The Austroasiatics: East to west or west to east? In Enfield, N. J. (ed.), Dynamics of human diversity: The case of mainland Southeast Asia (Pacific Linguistics 627), 345–359. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University.Google Scholar
Schuessler, Axel
2007 ABC etymological dictionary of Old Chinese. Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i Press.Google Scholar
Shang, Xi
2014 Shijing cidian [Dictionary of The book of odes ]. Revised edn. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Google Scholar
Shorto, Harry L.
2006 A Mon-Khmer comparative dictionary (Pacific Linguistics 579). Canberra: Australian National University, The Australian National University.Google Scholar
Sidwell, Paul
2009 Classifying the Austroasiatic languages: History and state of the art (Lincom Studies in Asian Linguistics 76). Munich: Lincom Europa.Google Scholar
Sidwell, Paul & Blench, Roger
2011 The Austroasiatic urheimat: The southeastern riverine hypothesis. In Enfield, N. J. (ed.), Dynamics of human diversity: The case of mainland Southeast Asia (Pacific Linguistics 627), 315–343. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University.Google Scholar
(Former Han) Sima, Qian 1959 Shiji [The grand scribe’s records]. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.Google Scholar
Sohn, Ho-Min
1999 The Korean language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Trask, R. L.
1993 A dictionary of grammatical terms in linguistics. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
van Driem, George
2001 Languages of the Himalayas: An ethnolinguistic handbook of the greater Himalayan region: Containing an introduction to the symbiotic theory of language. Leiden: Brill. (21 vols.)Google Scholar
2011 Rice and the Austroasiatic and Hmong-Mien homelands. In Enfield, N. J. (ed.), Dynamics of human diversity: The case of mainland Southeast Asia (Pacific Linguistics 627), 361–390. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University.Google Scholar
Waley, Arthur
1996 The book of songs: The ancient Chinese classic of poetry. New York: Grove Press. (Translated from the Chinese by Waley, Arthur).Google Scholar
Wang, Li
1976 Gu Hanyu tonglun [Outline of Old Chinese]. Hong Kong: Zhongwai Publisher.Google Scholar
Wang, Li & Tang, Zuofan & Guo, Xiliang & Cao, Xianzhuo & He, Jiuying & Jiang, Shaoyu & Zhang, Shuangdi
2000 Wang Li Gu Hanyu zidian [Wang Li’s character dictionary of Old Chinese]. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.Google Scholar
(Later Han) Xu, Shen 1963 Shuowen jiezi [Explaining graphs and analyzing characters]. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.Google Scholar
Yang, Bojun
1962 “Yuan” zi Shanggu zuo “yan” zi yong lizheng [Proof of yuan in Old Chinese used as yan ]. Zhongguo Yuwen [Studies of the Chinese Language] 1121. 67–69.Google Scholar
1981 Chunqiu Zuozhuan zhu [Annotations of Zuo commentary for Spring and Autumn Annals ]. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.Google Scholar
Zhang, Ruifang
2009 Shixi Wang Yinzhi Jingzhuan shici zhong de xuci “yuan” [Analyzing the function word yuan in Explaining function words in Chinese classics by Wang Yinzhi]. Ha’erbin Xueyuan Xuebao [Journal of Harbin University] 30(3). 84–86.Google Scholar
Zhang, Yujin
2008 Chutu Zhanguo wenxian zhong “yan” de yanjiu. [A study on the yan in the unearthed edition books of the Warring States]. Yuyan Kexue [Linguistic Sciences] 2008(4). 406–414.Google Scholar
Zhu, Qianzhi
2000[1984] Laozi jiaoshi [Annotations on Laozi]. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.Google Scholar