“天真”的词汇化及其动因和机制

The Lexicalization of “Tianzhen” and Its Motivation and Mechanism

摘要: “天真”是形容词，指的是心地单纯，是一个可用于褒义和贬义的中性词。从“天真”的词语结构来看，难以直接断定其现代意义和其两个语素之间的具体联系。“天真”诞生于上古，最初是词组和名词，表示精气、人的本性或神仙的名字等。沿用了数代之后，于清代演化为一个形容词，表示纯真，沿用至今。“天真”从最开始的意义演化为如今仅有的“单纯”义，语言内部要素变化、组合义促使的语义脱落、认知的主观化是其最重要的动因，重新分析及句位调整、语义类推、和谐转化是其最主要的机制。

Abstract: “Tianzhen”, a Chinese adjective, denotes the quality of having a simple heart. It is a term that can be used in both positive and negative contexts. The etymology of “tianzhen” presents challenges in de-termining its precise modern meaning and the specific relationship between its two morphemes. Originally, “tianzhen” was a phrase and a noun in ancient times, representing the essence, human nature, or the name of a deity. Over time, it underwent semantic evolution and became an adjective during the Qing Dynasty, signifying innocence. This meaning persists in contemporary usage. The motivation of lexicalization of “tianzhen” can be attributed to various factors, including changes in linguistic elements, the loss of semantic connections due to the combination of meanings, and sub-jective cognitive processes. The primary mechanisms involved in this evolution include reanalysis, adjustment of sentence position, semantic analogy, and harmonious transformation.