Abstract:
The auxiliary in Shenmu dialect in northern Shaanxi has many logical meanings, such as bravery, permission, possibility, intention and so on, which can be classified into “敢1”,“敢2”,“敢3” and “敢4”. There is a relation of extension among these usages, which may involve such elements as the domain of the subject, semantic features of the verb, extension of semantic relation, change of the tone and the like. This paper discusses the abovementioned usages of the auxiliary “敢” and its grammaticalization by comparing the usages of “敢” with the counterpart in surrounding dialects and that in the oral documents in the Yuan Dynasty.
