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Introducing Chinese Linguistics
A handbook for Chinese language teachers and learners
This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of Chinese linguistics, including the core components of phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, writing system, and social cultural aspects of the language. It also discusses key features of Chinese language acquisition in each of these areas, highlighting common difficulties and obstacles adult learners encounter as revealed in language acquisition research. The integration of basic linguistic knowledge with language acquisition findings provides valuable resources for both current and aspiring Chinese language teachers, and serious learners of Chinese as a second language. Exercise questions included in each chapter serve to reinforce the concepts of Chinese linguistics. The book is designed to not only enhance Chinese learners’ linguistic awareness but also provide language teachers with pedagogical preparation and assistance. While this book can be used as a textbook for an introductory Chinese linguistics course, it is also beneficial to the broader range of readers who are interested in Chinese linguistics.
[Studies in Chinese Language and Discourse, 16] 2022. xx, 283 pp.
Publishing status: Available
Published online on 22 November 2022
Published online on 22 November 2022
© John Benjamins
Table of Contents
- List of abbreviations | pp. xi–xii
- Preface | pp. xiii–xviii
- Acknowledgements | pp. xix–xx
- Chapter 1. Introduction to linguistics and Chinese language | pp. 1–24
- Chapter 2. Phonetics and phonology (I): Segmental features | pp. 25–54
- Chapter 3. Phonetics and phonology (II): Suprasegmental features | pp. 55–86
- Chapter 4. Chinese morphology | pp. 87–128
- Chapter 5. Chinese syntax I | pp. 129–178
- Chapter 6. Chinese syntax II | pp. 179–216
- Chapter 7. Chinese writing system | pp. 217–236
- Chapter 8. Chinese language in its social context | pp. 237–264
- References | pp. 265–276
- Index | pp. 277–283
“Introducing Chinese Linguistics: A handbook for Chinese language teachers and learners (henceforth ICL) provides a comprehensive, accessible and innovative introduction to Chinese linguistics, covering key topics such as Chinese phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, the writing system and the role of social and cultural factors in Chinese language use. [...] ICL is an exciting addition to the field of Chinese linguistics and the field of teaching Chinese as a second language. The authors demonstrate tremendous knowledge of the Chinese language and L2 Mandarin Chinese learners’ common challenges. The clear and unique pathway from general linguistics to Chinese linguistics and then to Chinese second language acquisition and Chinese language pedagogy make this volume an excellent textbook for Chinese language teacher training programs. I also highly recommend this book to all serious learners of Chinese as a second language and readers who are interested in Chinese linguistics. Moreover, this volume also serves well as a resource book for current and prospective Chinese language teachers and researchers in Chinese grammar, linguistics and language pedagogy.”
Han Luo, Lafayette College, in Chinese as a Second Language, 58:1 (2023).
Cited by (2)
Cited by two other publications
Su, Yunwen
Sun, Qi & Jamie Gahtan
2024. Review of Jiang (2014): Advances in Chinese as a second language: Acquisition and processing. International Journal of Chinese Linguistics 11:1 ► pp. 130 ff.
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