Abstract

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Keywords:: Classical Chinese; universal quantifier; logical term; linguistic philosophy of Chinese

Abstract:: This thesis is intended to examine universal quantification in classical Chinese in which universal quantifiers include mei (每), jian (兼), jie (皆), bian (遍), fan(泛), zhou (周), and ge (各). According to location and scope, the function of jian, bian, fan and zhou can be described as jump jurisdiction, that of jie and ge forward jurisdiction, while that of mei reverse jurisdiction. They can also be divided into subjective quantifiers, including jie and ge, and objective quantifiers, including jian, mei, bian, fan and zhou. In addition, jie, bian, fan and zhou semantically focuses on the whole of quantified elements, while mei, ge and jie on the part of quantified elements. More specially, mei emphasizes the individuality of elements, ge highlights the uniqueness of elements, while jian implies that we shall treat the elements indiscriminately despite of their differences. Methodologically speaking, this thesis shows that in the examination of a quantifier we shall investigate its ordinary and logical usage to understand its logical and non-logical truth.