Participants > Caccin Daniele

This paper presents an analysis of the transformation in the lexicographic practices embedded in the changes of compilations collecting linguistic material and knowledge of the vernacular language. The case study is represented by the analysis of two works ascribable to a specific variety of the Early Modern Chinese (jindai Hanyu 近代漢語) of the late imperial period: Yueyu kenqing lu 越語肯綮錄 [Register of the essential points of the language of Yue] by Mao Qiling 毛奇齡 (1623-1716) and Yueyan 越諺 [Sayings of Yue] (1882) by Fan Yin 笵寅 (1830-1911 ), with object the linguistic material of the popolar topolect (Yue suyu 越俗語) under the cultural influence of Shaoxing 紹興, in northern Zhejiang, considered as one representative variety of the broader Wu language (Wu yu 吳語).

The analysis includes the features that characterize the macro- and micro-structure and it is based on elements of a preliminary research on the well-rooted lexicographic practices of the vernacular language in the Jiangdong area (江東) and on paratextual materials. The investigation focuses on the role and functions played by this typology of works that are primarily the dissemination of knowledge regarding a specific linguistic variety through two main acts, the gathering of different linguistic materials and textual formats, such as songs, sayings, expressions, on the one hand; and the adding of lexical gloss next to local meanings, colloquialisms (suyu ci 俗語詞) and popular graphic varieties (suzi 俗字) on the other.

The research moves from a lexical analysis in a diachronic perspective, ranging from the beginning to the end of the Qing era (1644-1911), to a comparison with similar compilations, such as Hengyan Lu 恆言錄 [Enduring Sayings] by Qian Daxin 錢大昕 (1805), Zhengsu Wen 證俗文 [Rectification of popular words] by Hao Yixing 郝懿行 (1813), etc. The adopted methodology includes the consultation of differnt corpora, such as CCG (China Comprehensive Gazzetiers), in order to reach the topolectal terminology in material of different nature. While in the onomasiologic structure of the lemmas of its juan, YyKql is ordered basically on the Pingshui rhyming scheme and on ancient Chinese tones, recalling a rhyme dictionary; Yueyan, on the other hand, represents a composite work made up of a first juan of variagated linguistic material (sayings, riddles, songs and rhymes, suffixes), a second juan divided into 24 subject categories following the traditional order of classified dictionaries (leishu 類書), a third and last juan with sound (phonetic variations from a diatopic point of view, polyphonic characters, rhymes, etc.) as pivot. Ideologically, Yueyan exceeds the concept of classified dictionary that characterized most of the previous dialect lexicography compilations, especially for a distribution into categories defined from a more linguistic-oriented perception more than a semantic order. It represents a more complete work from the perspective of contemporary lexicographer.

We consider this research as a contribution to a clearer definition of linguistic features of the Chinese language, embodded in the awareness we find in paratextual materials, such as in Lun yasuzi 論雅俗字 [Discussion on elegant and vulgar characters] (Yueyan, third juan), and to a broader conception of transmission of the linguistic material of a specific variety.

Daniele Caccin is a Ph.D. candidate at the the Foreign Literatures, Languages and Linguistics department of Verona University. He received a B.A. in Chinese from Ca' Foscari University of Venice and a M.A. in Art Theory and Aesthetics from Renmin University (Beijing). His research focuses on lexicographical practices and sources of the late empire (Ming-Qing Dynasty), such as Zhengsu Wen 證俗文 [Rectification of popular words], Hengyan Lu 恆言錄 [Enduring Sayings], and Yueyan 越諺 [Sayings of Yue]. His investigation focuses on the vernacular Chinese lexicon and on the lianmian ci 聯綿詞 [alliterative or rhyming binome]