汉语“才+VP”构式中“才”的时体功能研究

A study of the tense and aspect functions of “才“ in the Chinese construction of “才+VP”

The high-frequency word “才”, as an adverb of time, has not been solidified into tense-aspect morphology like “已经”, “刚才”, “正在” and other adverbs of time, which is related to its complex multi-function. The study of “才” should not be limited to its syntax, semanteme, or pragmatics, but it is necessary to investigate its variety in tense and aspect. In this paper, we study the specific function of tense and aspect of “才” in “才+VP”, and conclude that it can reflect the tenses of past, present and future according to different contexts; at the same time, it is able to express perfective, continuous and progressive aspect, and the “tense” and “aspect” of which obey certain rules collocation. While understanding meaning of the tense and aspect of “才”, we analyze its characteristics as well, and draw a conclusion that “才” has the characteristics of dynamicity, integrity/non-integrity, and reality/non-reality, which have an impact on the tense and aspect function of “才”. Meanwhile, we analyze some complex correlations between semantic orientation and aspect meaning of “才”. Through this paper, we are able to understand the versatility of “才” more deeply, comprehensively and systematically, so as to better understand sentences and contexts, which is meaningful in education and language learning.