Chinese Grammar: Synchronic And Diachronic Perspectives Paperback

Hilary Chappell

This book presents pioneering accounts by leading scholars of twelve central aspects of the grammar of Chinese languages. Deploying a combination of historical and typological approaches it shows the variety and diversity of Chinese languages as well as the extent to which these and their dialects differ from Mandarin. Each author provides full background information on the language or dialect under consideration including its historical and contemporary context. In her introduction Dr Chappell describes the history and geography of Chinese languages. "A must-read... a vital reassessment of the field which shows there is much to be learned by integrating historical study with dialectal investigation." Journal of Linguistics "Chappell combines typological observations of Sinitic and non-Sinitic languages with general linguistic theory in a most satisfying fashion.... A very welcome, refeshing and exciting contribution." Cahiers de Linguistique Hilary Chappell is senior lecturer in linguistics at La Trobe University. Her published work includes The Grammar of Inalienability (with William McGregor, Amsterdam, 1995). She is currently writing a book on the typology of Chinese languages, also to be published by OUP.

9780199272136

English

Oxford University Press, USA

06-05-2004

428

Hilary Chappell

The book is the first that combines diachronic with synchronic approaches in the study of Sinitic languages. ... There have been no lack of diachronic studies of Chinese grammar, for instance, but there has been no volume...that houses so many studies in one place. ...a must for students of Sinitic languages. * Linguist List *