Table of Contents

Preface; Major chronological divisions of Chinese history; 1. Introduction; 2. The historical phonology of Chinese; 3. The Chinese script; 4. The classical and literary languages; 5. The rise development of the written vernacular; 6. The modern standard language I; 7. The modern standard language II; 8. Dialectal variation in North and Central China; 9. The dialects of the Southeast; 10. Language and society; Notes; References; Index.

Promotional Information

A study of the Chinese language, tracing its history from its beginings in the second millennium BC to the present day.

Reviews

"...Norman's Chinese fills a lacuna as a much-needed introduction to the Chinese language. It is useful for the scholar seeking some overall knowledge of the phonology, syntax, genetic relationship, writing system, and historical development of Chinese, as well as some understanding of China's language policies, past, present, and future." Journal of the Chinese Language Teachers Association