Chinese language(s) : a look through the prism of The Great dictionary of modern Chinese dialects / by Maria Kurpaska.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kurpaska, Maria, 1977-

Series:

Trends in linguistics. Studies and monographs ; 215.

Trends in linguistics studies and monographs ; 215

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Chinese language--Dialects--Dictionaries.

Chinese language.

Chinese language--Phonetics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (296 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Berlin ; New York : De Gruyter Mouton, c2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The major aim of the book is to trace the current structuring of the Chinese language(s) on the ground of Chinese linguistics. The research presented is based on the newest and most renowned sources, namely The Great Dictionary of Modern Chinese Dialects, and the Language Atlas of China. The author discusses the role The Great Dictionary plays in analyzing the spectrum of linguistic differentiation in China and gives a detailed account of the kind of information the dictionary provides. As background, she sketches the development and current state of Chinese dialectology and dialect research. One of the author's aims is to show respect for the grand achievement the Dictionary undoubtedly is, but also to emphasize a critical distance to some of the views presented in it. Apart from being an analysis of this particular Dictionary, the book presents data about the state of modern Chinese dialectology. It provides information about different classifications of the dialects and explains on what basis the classifications are made. Looking at Chinese dialectology from a Western point of view, the author aims to understand and present the Chinese perspective. The book fills an important gap in the field of Western sinology. So far, despite lively discussions concerning the status of the varieties of Chinese and their taxonomy, full-scale studies on Chinese dialects have been almost non-existent in the Western World.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Abbreviations

List of tables, diagrams and illustrations

Chapter 1. Defining terminology

Chapter 2. Languages of China

Chapter 3. The language policy of the People's Republic of China regarding the dialects of Chinese

Chapter 4. Chinese historical phonetics

Chapter 5. Classifications of Chinese dialects

Chapter 6. The classification of Chinese dialects according to The Language Atlas of China

Chapter 7. Guidelines for field research of Chinese dialects

Chapter 8. Analysis of The Great Dictionary of Modern Chinese Dialects

Chapter 9. Information gathered from The Great Dictionary of Modern Chinese Dialects

Chapter 10. Summary and conclusions

Backmatter

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786612673047

9781282673045

1282673041

9783110219159

3110219158

OCLC:

648711654