Sinitic Grammar: Synchronic and Diachronic Perspectives - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 019829977X ISBN 13: 9780198299776

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2002

Synopsis

This is an anthology on topics in the grammar of Chinese (Sinitic) languages. Its aim is to meld historical and typological approaches in the examination of grammatical phenomena in order to show the extent to which both earlier stages of Chinese, as well as the modern dialects, differ from standard Mandarin. With this purpose in mind, each author has provided important background information on the Chinese language, dialect, or historical period under investigation. The introduction provides an up-to-date description of Sinitic languages in terms of history and geography, placing the goals of the volume into perspective. A dialect map of China and a summary of each chapter is also provided.

About this title

About the Author:

Hilary Chappell is a senior lecturer in the Department of Linguistics at La Trobe University, Melbourne. During the last six years, she has embarked upon the first large scale typological study of grammatical diversity in Sinitic (Chinese) languages. She has carried out field work and research in China (2 years) and Taiwan (1 year), initially studying at Beijing University.
Her publications include a jointly edited volume with William McGregor entitled 'The Grammar of Inalienability' (Mouton de Gruyter, 1995) which has become a standard reference in typology on the topic of grammatical possession. She has also published over 30 book chapters and articles on topics in the grammar of Chinese languages.

Review:

The first book in English to present cutting edge analyses on the grammar of little-explored Chinese languages and dialects ... the book is made accessible to a general readership in addition to specialists within the field. * Folia Linguistica * Chappell combines typological observations of Sinitic and non-Sinitic languages with general linguistic theory in a most satisfying fashion ... This is the first serious attempt to put several non-Mandarin varieties on the menu of the linguist-gourmand ... Chappell's volume is a very welcome, refreshing and exciting contribution. * Cahiers de Linguistique Asie Orientale * The thirteen papers in this volume were written by prominent researchers in Chinese linguistics and cover a remarkably wide range of data ... this book is definitely a must-read, since it provides significant insights into the historical development of Chinese dialects. It is a vital reassessment of the field, which shows that there is much to be learned by integrating historical study with dialectal investigation. * Journal of Linguistics *

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 019829977X
• ISBN 13: 9780198299776
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 432
• Editor: Chappell Hilary