Page 15 - EALC C306/505

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大小 dàxǐao: [big + small =] size

來往 láiwăng: [come + go =] movements

We will see later that the tendency in WYW to build meaning on the basis of symmetry
in rhetoric extends beyond the level of the word. We will find structures of the R+R type
at the levels of complex phrases and sentences.

1.5 “If... then...” sentences with zé 則

Zé is a complex word with a variety of functions as a syntactical marker (it also has
meanings as a noun and verb that we will not address here). At this point, we treat only
its most common function: as a marker of an “if... then...” sentence.

There are a number of potential markers for “if” that may be placed at the start of an “if...
then...” sentence. We will encounter some of these, but most often, they are ellipsed.
When that is the case, only zé remains as a syntactical marker of the hypothetical
structure. Thus, it would be correct to represent the basic pattern of an “if... then...”
sentence as:
Phrase 1 則 Phrase 2

We will discover later that even zé may be ellipsed, creating a situation where the syntax
must be understood solely through devices such as parallelism, symmetry, or rhetorical
balance (as in cases in English such as, “No shirt, no shoes, no service!”).

1.6 Parsimony in grammar and context-driven readings

學問之道無他求其放心而已矣

The closing sentence of this passage reflects the basic fact, apparent at almost all points,
that WYW is generally very spare in providing explicit grammatical markers. The
sentence consists of three phrases and a sentence-suffix bound form at the end:

Basic meaning
• 學問之道 the dao of learning
• 無他 is no other
• 求其放心 seek [its] loosed heart-mind
• 而已矣 that is all

But there are a number of ways in which these elements may be joined to make a
meaningful sentence. The reader is expected to use the constraints supplied by context to
find the sole, coherent reading for this case.