西夏語的示證範疇

Abstract

西夏語有許多語法現象具有羌語支語言的語法特徵, 但對於西夏語是否有示證範疇, 到目前為止並沒有定論。在本文中我們在大量文獻及類型學的基礎上, 證明了西夏語有示證範疇的存在。其示證意義包括 : 親知式, 推知式與報導式。

The Tangut language, a member of the Sino-Tibetan language family, is renowned for its preserved ancient written records, making it a crucial subject in comparative linguistic studies. While Tangut shares grammatical features with Qiangic languages, the existence of an evidential category has been a contentious issue. This study, grounded in typological and extensive textual analysis, establishes the presence of evidential markers in Tangut, encoding three primary evidential meanings : direct evidentials (first-hand information), inferential evidentials (deductions based on evidence), and reportative evidentials (information from external sources). Direct evidentials are marked by the suffix -djij2, indicating sensory perceptions such as visual or auditory experiences. Inferential evidentials employ -sji2 to convey conclusions based on indirect observations or logical reasoning. Reportative evidentials further differentiate between high-credibility sources with explicit references and low-credibility, often mythical accounts. These are represented respectively by the markers -･jɨ1/･jɨ2 djij2 and -･jɨ1/･jɨ2 This article also investigates the origins and development of these evidential markers, emphasizing their grammatical and functional roles within Tangut. The study reveals that the direct evidential marker -djij2 is associated with the progressive aspect and may originate from the verb djij2 meaning “used to.” The inferential evidential marker sji2 is derived from the perfect aspect. Additionally, the low-credibility reportative evidential marker originates from the speech verb ･jɨ1/･jɨ2, while the high-credibility reportative evidential marker is formed by combining the direct evidential marker -djij2 with the quotation marker-･jɨ1/･jɨ2, which itself originates from the same speech verb. The analysis draws on extensive Tangut texts, including religious scriptures and vernacular writings, to illustrate the grammatical application of these markers. Examples demonstrate how Tangut speakers distinguished information based on its source, reflecting the nuanced encoding of evidentiality. Comparisons with Tibeto-Burman languages reveal typological parallels while emphasizing Tangutʼs distinct linguistic features.