Abstract:
This study examines the development of the verb hěn meaning see into a pragmatic marker, which is generally considered one product of grammaticalization (Brinton1996; Traugott 1997; Dasher and Traugott 2002). It is found that hěn which exhibits this grammatical function occurs in three syntactic contexts: 1) hěn precedes a quotative clause 2) hěn co-occurs with the negative word mâj 3) hěn cooccurs with the copula verbs pen and dâjkὲε.The meaning of the verb hěn in these three actual contexts is obviously grammatical as it does not constitute a semantic core but extra information. Furthermore, it is optional in every afore-mentioned context. Hěn functions as one of mitigating devices that softens the assertive force or degree of commitment towards the proposition. Hěn in these three syntactic contexts also exhibits a certain degree of subjectivity in Langackers sense (1985, 1991, 1999, 2006)in that hěn construes the speaker as being a part of the events, which results in an ego-centric viewing arrangement in which the speaker/ conceptualizer remains inside its scope of predication. The potency of actual events becomes more subjective as being judged according to the speakers very own visual perception. The grammaticalization of hěn results from the process of attenuation and transparency in which a large part of the basic meaning of hěn has disappeared