关键词: 然后, 虚化, 心智哲学, 动因

Abstract: In modern Chinese, the grammaticalization of “Ranhou”(然后) is characterized by three main features: temporal relation > spatial relation, objectivity> subjectivity, generalization of the functions. This is a reverse process against the cognitive processes of “space> time” and “subjectivity> objectivity” in cognitive linguistics. The former studies have not given a proper illustration to this phenomenon. Based on the theory of philosophy of mind, this essay shows that the starting point of Ranhou's grammaticalization process is the intentional content focus of “relationship”. Affected by mental-physical supervenience, it is a result of the emergence of different new “relationships” between different levels under the domain of “relationship”. The grammaticalization process of Ranhou experiences three stages: (1) objective order to subjective order stage: with the mental property of “the sequence” relationship, it emerges from time relation to space relation, and then the magnitude relation; (2) the extension stage of subjective sequence: based on the first stage, the emergence of a logic relationship and objectively disordered events (parallel, comparison relations, etc. ) happens in this stage; (3) discourse marker and discourse assistance element stage: a period from objective events relation to discourse relation.