A study on the function of “隹 (惟)”: A case study of Feng Xu zhi Ming in the Tsinghua Bamboo Slips (V)

This study regards certain topic sentence patterns as typical forms of marked subject–predicate explanatory sentences, and confirms that some topic constructions constitute partial formats of explanatory sentences. In particular, through an analysis of sentences marked by “ 惟 ” or “ 唯 ,” the study explores the linguistic environment at the time of the compilation of the chapter Feng Xu zhi Ming ( 《 封 許 之 命 》 ) in Tsinghua University Bamboo Slips (Vol. 5) ( 《 清 華 大 學 藏 戰 國 竹 簡 （ 伍 ） 》 ). Special attention is given to negative constructions in which “ 隹 ( 惟 / 唯 )” functions as a topic marker. The study seeks to verify that, as a marker, it signals the shared beliefs and presupposed premises between speaker and hearer. In other words, so-called topic sentences may be understood as commonly recognized cognitive objects grounded in the shared beliefs and conceptual assumptions of both interlocutors. This text bears strong resemblance to charge-appointment inscriptions found in bronze inscriptions and in documents associated with the feudal ritual system. Through linguistic analysis, this paper attempts to examine the interrelationships among different transmitted versions of the text. By analyzing the syntactic patterns and lexical usage of “ 隹 ( 惟 / 唯 ),” the study aims to investigate the linguistic environment of the ancient period in which the text was composed. Explanatory sentences may be regarded as explicit external topic constructions exhibiting coreferential relations, and markedness is considered an indispensable condition. The study observes that “ 惟 ” is typically used as a judgment marker, appearing four times in Feng Xu zhi Ming , and that it co-occurs with relational adverbs such as “ 亦 ” or “ 則 .” By examining the semantic roles of elements co-occurring with “ 隹 ( 惟 / 唯 ),” the study further infers the linguistic environment at the time of the text's formation.