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Abstract |
Almost half a century later, it is worth considering what the relevance of the work for present and future generations of linguists can be. I will consider this question from a number of angles.
Linguistic change: thanks to Chao’s careful documentation of spoken forms, a number of recent developments can be traced in the phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and lexicon of Mandarin.
The format of the work: in the age of Pinyin transcription, simplified characters and searchable e-books, the typography and format of Chao’s grammar have become stumbling blocks for interested readers.
The language of the work: how relevant is the fact that the work is written in English, and how do the Chinese translations compare to the original?
The language under description: given that Chao’s “emphasis has been to de- emphasize the standard aspect of Mandarin” (p. viii), how does the target language compare to that of today’s grammars of Standard Mandarin and Modern Chinese?
I will discuss a number of these developments, perspectives and comparisons in detail.
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Reference |
Yuen Ren Chao [赵元任 Zhào Yuánrèn, 1892-1982], A grammar of spoken Chinese, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1968.
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