Brief History of the Chinese Language : Middle Chinese Lexicon

As the sixth volume of a multivolume set on the Chinese language, this book studies the influence of foreign culture on Middle Chinese lexicon and the development of synonyms, idioms, and proverbs during the period.

Focusing on lexicons in Middle Chinese, the middle form of the Chinese language used between the 4th century CE and the 12th century CE, this book first analyzes loanwords in Middle Chinese, a product of cultural exchange with western regions on the Silk Road and the impact of Buddhism. It then discusses the differences in meaning between monosyllables and polysyllables. The final chapter describes enriching idioms and proverbs and the major sources of words, including classical works, Buddhist texts, and the spoken language.

Illustrated with abundant examples, this comprehensive groundwork on Chinese lexical history will be a must-read for scholars and students studying ancient Chinese language and linguistics and especially for beginning learners of the Middle Chinese lexicon.

Xi Xiang is Professor at Sichuan University (China) and a distinguished linguist. His research interests are focused on Chinese language history and Chinese linguistics. His major works include A Brief History of Chinese, the Dictionary of Poetry Classics, Commentary on the Translation of Poetry Classics, Dictionary of Ancient Chinese Knowledge, and the Concise Ancient Chinese Dictionary, among others.