Abstract:
In the Putang dialect of Yulin, Guangxi,
ji, a degree adverb, can represent a high degree. It is an equivalent to
hao (how) /
duome (very) in standard modern Chinese, and it often carries an exclamatory tone. Therefore, the adverb indicates the speaker’s strong subjective emotion. This paper is based on previous research and investigations of diachronic and synchronic dialect data along with other dialects. It concludes that the degree adverbs in the Putang dialect are a continuation of ancient Chinese degree ones. The abstraction path of the ancient Chinese degree adverbs is as follows: interrogative pronouns > adverbs for inquiring about degrees > degree adverbs of exclamations.