This course gives an introduction to linguistically interesting aspects, both historical and modern, of Modern Standard Chinese and Chinese dialects. The course will be of particular interest to students who wish to learn more about how the Chinese language is structured and functions, and especially to those who wish to teach English to Chinese speakers, and Chinese to English speakers. It will also be of value to students of Chinese societies in general.

Topics:
1. Structure of Modern Standard Chinese: Phonology (Sounds), Morphology (Word Structure), Syntax (Sentence Structure), Semantics (Meanings).
2. Modern Dialectology: Main linguistic characteristics of three major groups (Wu, Min, Yue).
3. Historical Linguistics: Genetic affiliation. Reconstruction from the modern dialects. Ancient Chinese (Traditional yinyunxue: Rhyme books and tables). Archaic Chinese. The writing system.

Assignments (55%), in-class test (15%) and essay (30%).

2 hours of lectures and one hour of tutorial per week

Introduction to the Study of Language LING1001 and normally either Phonetics: Sounds of the World's Languages LING1010/LING2020, Phonological Analysis LING2019 or Introduction to Syntax LING2003. Some knowledge of Chinese is desirable but not essential. This course is for second and third-year students (first-year students may enrol only with special permission from the Convener of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, and the Head, China Centre).

Norman, J. Chinese, Cambridge University Press 1988.