MCLC: dissent speaks code (2,3,4)

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: Han Meng <hanmeng at gmail.com>
Subject: dissent speaks code (2)
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From the 汉语大词典：

13.表示被动。犹让，为。《北史·麦铁杖传》：“吾荷國恩，今是死日。我得被殺，爾當富貴。”
唐  元稹 《说剑》诗：“曾被掛樹枝，寒光射林藪。”《儒林
外史》第十一回：“ 楊執中 恍然醒悟道：‘是了，是了，這事被我這個老嫗所誤！’”

But when did 被 take on a negative connotation?

Han Meng

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From: Scott Savitt <scottsavitt at gmail.com>
Subject: dissent speaks code (3)


I just did a quick word search on Hongloumeng, and 被 for 'passive' didn't
come up.  But a lot of examples came up in Shuihuzhuan.

I'll change the wording when the full version of this essay comes out.
It's still true that late-Qing began using 被 a lot more to handle the
influx of Western grammar, but you're clearly right that it was there
earlier, too.

Scott

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From: Sean Macdonald <smacdon2005 at gmail.com>
Subject: dissent speaks code 4)

Yes, I wondered about that comment as well. While it may indeed have
worked to translate "Western" passive form(s), it does seem to have been
around for awhile:

At least according to 在线新华字典
http://xh.5156edu.com/html3/16042.html

被 
bèi 
【介】 
表示被动:叫;让〖-ed+by〗 
妆成每被秋娘妒。——唐·白居易《琵琶行(并序)》
幸借天降大雨,房屋未被火烧。——《广州军务记》
风流总被雨打风吹去。——宋·辛弃疾《永遇乐·京口北固亭怀古》
又如:芦花被微风吹起;歌本儿被人借走了

All the best,

Sean