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Chinese Language Program > Courses > Chinese Linguistics

Chinese Linguistics

Chinese 390/Linguistics 402

By Janet Zhiqun Xing

 

 

Teaching Materials

  1. Required (available at the University Bookstore):
    • Jerry Norman. 1988. Chinese. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
    • Charles N. Li and Sandra A. Thompson. 1981. Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar. Berkeley: California University Press.
  2. Recommanded (reserved in the library)
    • Reading Package, compiled by Janet Xing
    • Articles related to the subjects covered in this class.
    • Lecture Notes (See the Blackboard of this course)
  3. Optional (available from the publisher)
    • Robert Ramsey. 1989. The Language of China. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
    • Peng Chen. 1999. Modern Chinese: History and Sociolinguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
    • Mobo C. F. Gao. 2001. Mandarin Chinese: An Introduction. Oxford University Press.

Course Description & Objectives

Description: This course investigates the phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicon, and writing system of the Chinese language. Also covered briefly are some topics relating language to culture and society.

Objectives: This course is designed to familiarize students in Chinese and linguistics with some basic knowledge of the structure of Mandarin (Modern standard) Chinese. The course investigates the grammar of the language from a functional--as well as cognitive--perspective. Development of grammatical features in the history of the language will also be examined. Included as part of the course will be a cursory look at the origin and evolution of the Chinese script, the classification and development of modern Chinese dialects, taboo words and their effect on language change, and the relationship between language and culture. Other topics may also be included.

Course Format and Student Responsibilities

Format: The course will be conducted through lectures combined with class discussions of assigned readings and other class activities. Course work includes a take-home assignment, a midterm exam, a presentation of research project and a final paper.

Student responsibilities: Students are expected to read and reflect on all assigned readings prior to class, and are expected to attend class and to participate actively in class discussions and other class activities.

In addition, students are expected to:

  1. Submit one take-home assignment
  2. Take a mid-term exam
  3. Present an oral version of the research project in the last week of class
  4. Submit a term paper

Grading

Grading will be based on:

  1. Class participation (20%)
  2. Take-home assignment (20%)
  3. Mid-term exam (20%)
  4. Research project (all phases) (40%)

Schedule (See the Blackboard of this course)

References

Recommended Reading:

  1. Li, Fang-kuei. 1973. "Languages and dialects of China." Journal of Chinese Linguistics 1.1:1-13. (A condensed version, which first appeared in 1937 in the Chinese Yearbook, Shanghai, was the first scientific classification of the Chinese language into dialect groups, together with other language families spoken in China.
  2. Packard, J. 1998. "Introduction to Chinese Word Formation." New Approaches to Chinese Word Formation, (ed.) Jerome Packard, pp. 1-34. Berlin/New York: Mouton de Grugter.
  3. Tai, James and Lianqing Wang. 1990. "A semantic study of the classifier tiao." Journal of the Chinese Language Teachers Association XXV.1:35-56.
  4. Sun, Chaofen. 1989. "The Discourse Function of Numberal Classifiers in Mandarin Chinese." Journal of Chinese Linguistics, Vol. 16, No. 2:298-322.
  5. Li, Charles and S. Thompson. 1974. Co-verb in Mandarin Chinese: Verbs or Prepositions. Journal of Chinese Linguistics, Vol. 2, No. 3:257-278.
  6. Bennett, Paul. 1981. "The Evolution of Passive and Disposal Sentences." Journal of Chinese Linguistics, Vol. 9:61-89.
  7. Xing, J. Z. 1994. "Diachronic Change of Object Markers in Mandarin Chinese." Language Variation and Change. Vol. 6, No. 2:201-222
  8. Teng, Shou-hsin. 1989. "Semantics of Causatives in Chinese." Functionalism and Chinese Grammar, (ed.) James Tai and Frank F.S. Hsueh, pp. 227-243.
  9. Xing, J. Z. 1999. "Grammaticalization of Focus Particle lian in Mandarin Chinese."
  10. Tai, James H-Y. 1993. "Iconicity: motivations in Chinese grammar." In: Mushira Eid and Gregory Iverson (eds.), Principles and Prediction: The Analysis of Natural Language, pp.153-173. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
  11. Xing, J. Z. 1999. "Pedagogical Grammar of Chinese: Special and Temporal Expressions".
  12. Sung, Margaret. 1979. "Chinese language and culture: a study of homonyms, lucky words and taboos." Journal of Chinese Linguistics 7.1:15-28.
  13. Chan, Marjorie K.M. 1998. "Gender differences in the Chinese language: a preliminary report." Proceedings of the Ninth North American Conference on Chinese Linguistics. Two volumes, edited by Hua Lin. Los Angeles: GSIL Publications, University of California. Volume 2, pages 35-52.
  14. Xing, J. Z. 2001. "What Chinese and Americans like to hear?" Journal of the Chinese Language Teachers Association 36:3:61-74.
  15. Lan, H.R. 1994. "Her beauty is EATABLE: a culturo-linguistic study." Journal of the Chinese Language Teachers Association XXIX.3:79-97.
  16. Wei, Hong. 1997. "Gender Differences in Chinese Request Patterns." Journal of Chinese Linguistics, Vol. 25, No. 2:193-208.
  17. Munro, S. R. 1983. "Color Metaphors and Cultural Confusion in Chinese and English"  Journal of the Chinese Language Teachers Association, Vol. XIX, No. 2:27-45.

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