The Generalized Usage of Gender Words in Xingguo Hakka Dialect
The gender words in Xingguo Hakka dialect can be divided into two categories from the source of their meanings.One is nouns that mark people,such as"gong(公),po(婆),mu(母),ma(嫲)",and the other is nouns that mark animals,such as"gu(牯),zi(牸),xiong(雄)".These gender words further expand their extension on the basis of similar generalization,spanning different semantic categories,from living objects to inanimate objects.Specifically,their semantic generalization processes are as follows:Gong(公)/ma(嫲):human→human→animal→plant→object;Po(婆)/mu(母):human→human→animal→object;Gu(牯):animals→animals→human→object;Zi(牸)/xiong(雄):animal → animal → human.Most of these gender words have gone through a grammaticalization process of gradually weakening the meaning of morphemes and the function of gender markers.Through metaphorical means and analogical mechanisms,with the semantic characteristics of the original morpheme as the connotation,the root gradually becomes a quasi affix,or even an affix.The generalization of gender words also reflects Hakkas'cultural spirits:the folk belief that all things have spirits and worship gods;the philosophical consciousness of unity between heaven and humanity,harmonious coexistence;orderly hierarchy and moral norms that distinguish between men and women.
Xingguo Hakka dialectgender wordssimilar generalizationcross class generalizationmetaphor
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