An unaddressed phonological contradiction

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-237
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Sampson
Keyword(s):  
Linguistic Theory ◽  
Statistical Testing ◽  
Human Language ◽  
Scholarly Community ◽  
Old Chinese ◽  
Standard Chinese ◽  
General Linguistic ◽  
Modern Standard

Abstract There is general agreement on the main features of the process through which the phonology of modern standard Chinese has evolved over three millennia from that of Old Chinese. However, according to general linguistic theory, that phonological history is impossible: the theory claims that no human language can evolve in the manner in which Chinese is believed to have evolved. Furthermore, this particular strand of general linguistic theory has recently been corroborated through stringent statistical testing. Thus there is a glaring contradiction between two areas of scholarship, and to date there has been little recognition by the scholarly community of the need to resolve this contradiction, indeed little willingness to admit its existence. I argue that the contradiction is real and serious, and needs resolution.

scholarly journals The impact of Labov's contribution to general linguistic theory

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 498-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonie Cornips ◽  
Frans Gregersen
Keyword(s):  
Linguistic Theory ◽  
General Linguistic ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Linguistic Temporality, Logical Meaning and Narrative Perspectives: Adverbs /zai/ and /you/ in Modern Standard Chinese

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-38
Author(s):  
Jens KARLSSON
Keyword(s):  
Semantic Information ◽  
Semantic Content ◽  
Conceptual Analogy ◽  
Semantic Encoding ◽  
Standard Chinese ◽  
Decompositional Analysis ◽  
Modern Standard ◽  
Temporal Adverbs

In this paper is presented an inquiry into some aspects of the meaning and usage of two temporal adverbs zai (再) and you (又) in Modern Standard Chinese. A decompositional analysis of the semantic encoding of the adverbs is conducted, aiming to better explain their recorded differences in usage. First, a sketch of some of the fundamental features of linguistic temporality is provided in order to model the structure of temporal semantic information encoded in the adverbs. Non-temporal (logical) meaning such as assertion and inference is also shown to be an important aspect of the semantic content of the adverbs. Adverbs zai and you are shown to encode the same semantic content except for a difference in viewpoint; the first being prospective, the second retrospective. Concrete linguistic examples reflecting the intrinsic semantic encoding of the adverbs are raised and discussed. It is then argued that through combining the decompositional analysis with ideas concerning conceptual analogy, some issues raised by Lu and Ma (1999) regarding the usage of zai and you in past and future settings may be resolved.

Textual cohesion in modern standard Chinese

1989 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Ellen Okurowski
Keyword(s):  
Textual Cohesion ◽  
Standard Chinese ◽  
Modern Standard

Grammaticalization Processes in the Area of Temporal and Modal Relations

1992 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Giacalone Ramat
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Linguistic Theory ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Linguistic Development ◽  
Context Dependent ◽  
General Linguistic ◽  
The University

This study investigates some instances of linguistic development in the acquisition of a second language that might be subsumed under the issue of grammaticalization. First, the notion of grammaticalization is discussed with reference to the current linguistic debate and its applicability to the domain of language acquisition is evaluated. Then, some cases are examined drawing on data on the acquisition of Italian collected during several years at the University of Pavia. With respect to temporality and modality, learners are shown to move from lexical means or context-dependent strategies to a gradual acquisition of the morphological devices required by the target language. The results of the analyses are discussed in terms of their implications for both general linguistic theory and language acquisition research.

Examining the native speakers’ understanding of communicative purposes of a written genre in modern standard Chinese

1997 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhu Yunxia
Keyword(s):  
Native Speakers ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Business Writing ◽  
Standard Chinese ◽  
Writing Practice ◽  
Modern Standard

Abstract This study aims to examine the different attitudes of the native speakers in understanding a written genre of Modern Standard Chinese—sales letters. The examination mainly focuses on the use of formulaic components as they appear in real Chinese sales letters and to compare these with the prescribed advice given in textbooks. To do this, 100 business students and 100 managers were surveyed for their views on appropriate business writing. The divergence of the views of these two groups of native speakers indicates that there is a gap between business teaching and business writing practice. The managers had a good understanding of the communicative purposes of the sales letters, while the students lacked this kind of understanding, which indicates the gap between business teaching and business writing practice.

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