This course is devoted to the rich legacy of linguist, educator, musician, philosopher and mathematician Yuen Ren Chao 趙元任 (Zhào Yuánrèn, 1892-1982).
We will decipher, translate, analyze and discuss Chao’s originals (including manuscripts); explore the historical contexts of his work; and assess its current scholarly relevance.
The course is kaleidoscopic by design, as dictated by the wide range of Chao’s fascinations.
Students will gain
hands-on knowledge in a broad spectrum of linguistic disciplines, script studies, and language education;
expand their technical vocabulary in Chinese and in English;
analyze academic arguments;
compare different positions and traditions with original observations; and
present oral and written arguments in English
Reading course with daily assignments, group discussions, and topicalized lectures. The language of instruction & discussion is English.
An (online) excursion has been planned for at least one session.
In preparing Chao's texts, students will be expected to pool resources depending on individual backgrounds and reading skills in English and in Chinese (traditional & simplified characters and/or handwriting).
We will read Y.R. Chao’s originals in English and Chinese, including cursive manuscripts.
Examples are texts from A grammar of Spoken Chinese, Mandarin Primer, 阿麗思漫遊奇境記 / Alice’s adventures in Wonderland, and “ə sistim əv ‘toun letəz’ ”.
The focus will be on linguistic subjects, with an occasional outing into other disciplines. These selections for this course will be distributed through the Summer School.
Before coming to this course, make sure to have read Jerry Norman, Chinese (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988).
Daily assignments and all other details can be found at the course’s website at <www.wiedenhof.nl/ul/cnow21ss.htm>.
Updated 8 March 2021 | home