安部 清哉

In this paper, the following points regarding demonstrative pronoun usage in Shaanxi Province Dialects of Chinese Language will be considered. In particular, those points of the 3-way contrast system of demonstrative pronouns expressing distance contrasts present in Chinese Language that are of interest to geographical linguistics will be examined. First of all, the main points of the existing investigations into Shaaxi dialect of Chinese will be pointed out. The data relating to this new study, focusing on the Geographical Distribution and the 3-way contrast system in that dialect, will then be presented and discussed. First, it will be argued that there in fact appears to be the complementary distribution between 2-way and 3-way contrast system operative in Shaaxi dialect. Second, it will be argued that there in fact appears to be three similar 3-way contrast systems operative in Shaaxi D. . These systems are; Type I: [Close–Near– Far] (proximal–middle–distal) Type II: [Close–Near– "Farther" (i.e. out of view)] Type III: [Close–Near–Far–Around? (Outskirts, distal)] This paper will then look at the currently most prominent theory on Chinese demonstrative pronouns, i.e. that "through the meeting of some differing contrast systems in 2-way contrast area, a new 3-way system began to form". A number of novel suggestions will be put forward. Finally, points for further study will be proposed.