Introduction 1
0.1 The term FPEP 1
0.2 Problems and aims 2
0.3 Assumptions and methods 7
0.4 Evidence and conventions 10
0.5 Summary and outline of this book 16
Chapter 1 The Theoretical Framework 20
1.1 Introduction 20
1.2 Meaning and grammar 20
1.3 Mechanisms of historical change 36
1.4 Grammaticalization and diachronic comparison 48
1.5 Summary 58
Chapter 2 Prior and Current Work on FPEPs and Grammaticalization 60
2.1 Introduction 60
2.2 Studies on grammaticalization 60
2.3 Backgrounds of the study on FPEPs 64
2.4 Major contemporary issues 87
2.5 Summary 94
Chapter 3 The Development of FP+MSV Epistemic Parentheticals 96
3.1 Introduction 96
3.2 FP+MSV epistemic parentheticals in PDE＆MdMand 97
3.3 The development of FP+MSV EPs in English 105
3.4 The development of FP+MSV EPs in Chinese 116
3.5 Summary 125
Chapter 4 The Development of FP+SAV Epistemic Parentheticals 127
4.1 Introduction 127
4.2 Speech act verbs and performative verbs 128
4.3 FP+SAV epistemic parentheticals in PDE＆MdMand 132
4.4 The development of FP+SAV EPs in English 139
4.5 The development of FP+SAV EPs in Chinese 151
4.6 Summary 160
Chapter 5 The Development of FP+SPV Epistemic Parentheticals 162
5.1 Introduction 162
5.2 FP+SPV epistemic parentheticals in PDE＆MdMand 163
5.3 The development of FP+SPV EPs in English 168
5.4 The development of FP+SAV EPs in Chinese 178
5.5 Summary 185
Chapter 6 Comparison:Diachronic Universals and Diachronic Typology 187
6.1 Introduction 187
6.2 Diachronic comparison:grammaticalization of FPEPs 187
6.3 Synchronic comparison:FPEPs in the two languages and three sources 199
6.4 Diachronic universals and diachronic typology 210
6.5 Summary 220
Conclusion 222
Appendices 230
Bibliography 235
Acknowledgements 249