Exploring Chinese Language Evolution via Computer Corpus Analysis: A Case Study of Liru's Lexicalization and Grammaticalization

No consensus has been achieved about part of speech of liru (for example in English equivalent, in Chinese characters) among Chinese linguists, and moreover the diachronic perspective of big data-though most promising-was seldom adopted owing to technological constraints. This study deploys a diachronic corpus of Chinese language to examine the evolution of liru across the time span of ancient and modern Chinese. Results show that, contemporary liru undergoes lexicalization of li and ru from as early as the Six Dynasties (222-589 A. D.) and grammaticalization of liru through their semantic blurring. It is as a result of complexities and subjectivity in the communication contexts, liru gradually takes on discoursal functions of illustrating.