Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

New Horizons in Chinese Linguistics pp 235–267Cite as

Linguistic Diversity and Language Relationships

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Studies in Natural Language and Linguistic Theory ((SNLT,volume 36))

Abstract

Chinese linguistics has roots which reach far back in time. It is well known that linguistic studies formed the backbone of the disciplines collectively known as xiaoxue J、學, which remained at the core of traditional learning in China until modern times. At about the time that Plato was debating whether language is a social convention or a divine gift, Xunzi 荀子 [b.323 B.C.] was considering the same questions and coming up with similar analyses.1

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Cavalli-Sforza, L.L. and Edwards, A. W. F.: 1967, ‘Phylogenetic analysis: models and estimation procedures’, American Journal of Human Genetics 19, 233–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavalli-Sforza, L.L. and Wang, W. S.-Y.: 1986, ‘Spatial distance and lexical replacement’, Language 62, 38–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cavalli-Sforza, L.L. et al.: 1994, Historical Geography of Human Genes, Cambridge, Mass.: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang, K. C: 1986, The Archeology of Ancient China, 4th (ed.), Cambridge, Mass.: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chao, Yuen-Ren 趙元任 (1928) 現代考語的研究 Xiandai Wuyu de Yanjiu (Studies on Wu Dialects), Shanghai: Kexue Chubanshe (2nd Edition, 1959.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chao, Yuen-Ren 趙元任 (1954) 方言記錄中漢字的功用 ‘Fangyan jilu zhong hanzi de gongyong’, (The Uses of Chinese Characters in Dialect Fieldwork), pp. 117–128, Taipei: Academia Sinica.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chao, Yuen-Ren: 1976, Aspects of Chinese Sociolinguistics, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Chung-Yu: 1981, ‘Towards an affiliation of the Nanping Mandarin dialect of Fujian’, Journal of Chinese Linguistics 9, 151–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Matthew Y.: 1992, ‘Competing sound changes: evidence from Kam-Tai, Miao-Yao and Tibeto-Burman’, Journal of Chinese Linguistics 20, 193–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Matthew Y.: 1995, ‘Synchronic analogs of competing sound changes’, in Chen, Matthew, and Tzeng, Ovid (eds.), In Honor of William S.-Y. Wang: Interdisciplinary Studies on Language and Language Change, Taipei: Pyramid Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, Chin-Chuan: 1991, ‘Quantifying affinity among Chinese dialects’, pp. 78–112 in Wang (1991b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, Tsai-Fa 鄭再發: 1966, 漢語音韻史的分期問題 ‘Hanyu yinyun-shi de fenqi wenti’, (Issues of Periodization in Historical Chinese Phonology), Zhongyang Yanjiuyuan Lishi Yuyan Yanjiusuo jikan (Bulletin of the Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica) 36, 635–648.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Australian Academy of the Humanities: 1988 and 1991, Language Atlas of China, Hong Kong: Longman Group (Chinese edition available).

    Google Scholar 

  • Coblin, W. South: 1979, ‘A new study of the Pai-lang songs’, Tsing Hua Journal of Chinese Studies 12, 135–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dolgopolsky, A. B.: 1964, ‘A probabilistic hypothesis concerning the oldest relationships among the language families in Northern Eurasia’, Original Russian translated into English and published in V. V. Shevoroshkin and T. L. Markey (eds.): 1986, Typology, Relationship and Time, Ann Arbor: Karoma Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dwyer, A.: 1992, ‘Altaic elements in the Linxia dialect’, Journal of Chinese Linguistics 20, 160–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Embleton, S. M.: 1986, ‘Statistics in historical linguistics’, Bochum: Quantitative Linguistics Vol. 30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fei, Xiaotong, et al. 費孝通等: 1989, 中華民族多元一致格局 Zhonghua Minzu Duoyuan Yizhi Geju (The Pluralistic and Unified Character of the Chinese Nation), Beijing: Zhongyang Minzu Xueyuan Chubanshe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitch, W. M. and Margoliash, E.: 1967, ‘Construction of phylogenetic trees’, Science 155, 279–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grootaers, W. A.: 1943, ‘La geographie linguistique en Chine’, Monumenta Serica 8, 103–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grootaers, W. A.: 1945, ‘Necessité d’une nouvelle methode pour l’etude linguistique du chinois’, Monumenta Serica 10, 389–436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grootaers, W.A.: 1954, ‘Chao Yuan–jen, China’s leading dialectologist’, Orbis 3, 328–335.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hashimoto, Mantaro 橋本萬太郎 1978, 言語類型地理論,東京:弘文堂 (Chinese translation by Yu, Zhihong 余志鴻: 1985, 語言地理類型學 Yuyan dili leixing xue (A Geographical Theory of Linguistic Typology), Beijing: Beijing Daxue Chubanshe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ho, Dah-An 何大安: 1988, “濁上歸去” 與現代方言 ‘“Zhuo-shang gui qu” yu xiandai fangyan’, (Ascription of Voiced Rising to Departing Tone and Modern Dialects), Zhongyang Yanjiuyuan Lishi Yuyan Yanjiusuo jikan (Bulletin of the Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica) 59, 115–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ho, Dah-An 何大安: 1992, 漢語方言的研究:過去,現在和未來 ‘Hanyu fangyan de yanjiu: guoqu, xianzai he weilai’, (The study of Chinese Dialectology: Past, Present, and Future), Zhongyang Yanjiuyuan Lishi Yuyan Yanjiusuo jikan (Bulletin of the Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsieh, Hsin-I: 1973, ‘A new method of dialect subgrouping’, Journal of Chinese Linguistics 1, 64–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsu, Wen: 1995, ‘A study of the origin of fanqie in Chinese phonology’, Journal of Chinese Linguistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Itkonen, Esa: 1991, Universal History of Linguistics: India, China, Arabia, Europe, Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iwata, Ray 岩田禮 et al.: 1992, 和語諸方言 no 總合的硏究,課題番號 01301057, 靜岡大學人文學部.

    Google Scholar 

  • Izui, Hisanosuke 泉井久之助: 1953, ‘劉向“説苑”卷十一 no 越歌 ni tsuite’ (On the Yue Ge in Liu Xiang’s Shuoyuan.ll), Gengo Kenyu 22, 41–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamei, Takashi (1954) Chinese Borrowings in Prehistoric Japanese, Tokyo: Yoshikawa Kobunkan Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krishnamurti, Bh., Moses, L., and Danforth, D.: 1983, ‘Unchanged cognates as a criterion in linguistic subgrouping’, Language 59, 541–568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laufer, Berthold: 1987, Sino-Tibetan Studies, Volumes I and II, New Delhi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Fang-Kuei 李方桂: 1982, 上古音研究 Shanggu Yin Yanjiu (Studies in Archaic Chinese Phonology), Beijing: Shangwu Yinshuguan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Jingzhong 李敬忠: 1987, 《方言》中的少數民族語詞試析 ‘Fangyan zhong de shaoshu minzu yuci shixi’, (A Tentative Analysis of the Words of Minority Languages in Fangyan), Minzu Yuwen, 64–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Jingzhong 李敬忠: 1990, 粵語是漢語族群中的獨立語言 ‘Yueyu shi Hanyu zuqun zhong de duli yuyan’, (Cantonese is an independent language among other Han languages), 語文通訊 Yuwen Jianshe Tongxun (Chinese Language Review—Hong Kong) 27, 28–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Jingzhong 李敬忠: 1990, 粵語是漢語族群中的獨立語言 ‘Yueyu shi Hanyu zuqun zhong de duli yuyan’, (Cantonese is an independent language among other Han languages), 語文通訊 Yuwen Jianshe Tongxun (Chinese Language Review—Hong Kong) 28, 27–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Lien, Chinfa 連金發: 1990, 論閩方言的開合口音 ‘Lun Min fanyan de kaihe-kou yin’, (On the Zero and Rounded Onsets in Min Dialects), Proceedings of the IsCLL-1, the First International Symposium of Chinese Languages and Linguistics, 223–272, Taipei: Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Tao 林濤: 1990, 語言探索集稿 Yuyan tansuo jigao (Selected Papers on Language Research), Beijing: Beijing Yuyan Xueyuan Chubanshe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Junhui, et al. 劉君惠等: 1992, 揚雄方言研究 Yangxiong Fangyan Yanjiu (A Study of Yangxiong’s Fangyan), Chengdu: 巴蜀書社 Bashu Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyu, Shuxiang 呂淑湘: 1980, 語文常談 Yuwen Changtan (Informal Notes on Language), Beijing: Sanlian Shudian.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai, Yun 麥耘: 1991, 古今濁聲母清化規則補議 ‘Gujin zhuo shengmu qinghua guize buyi’, (Additonal Notes on the Rule of Initial Devoicing through Historical Stages), Zhongguo Yuwen 223, 289–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • McNeill, W. H.: 1977, Plagues and Peoples, New York: Doubleday.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meacham, C. A. and Estabrook, G. F.: 1985, ‘Compatibility methods in systematics’, Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 16, 431–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miyamoto, M. M. and Cracraft, J. (ed.): 1991, Phylogenetic Analysis of DNA Sequences, Oxford: University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mountain, J. L., Wang, W. S.-Y., Du, R. F., Yuan, Y. D., and Cavalli-Sforza, L. L.: 1992, ‘Congruence of genetic and linguistic evolution in China’, Journal of Chinese Linguistics 20, 315–331.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norman, Jerry: 1979, ‘Chronological strata in the Min dialects’, Fangyan 4, 268–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norman, Jerry: 1982, ‘Four notes on Chinese-Altaic linguistic contacts’, Tsing Hua Journal of Chinese Studies 14, 243–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norman, Jerry: 1988, Chinese, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norman, Jerry and Mei, Tsu-Lin: 1976, ‘The Austroasiatics in ancient South China: some lexical evidence’, Monumenta Serica 32, 274–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinnow, H.-J.: 1959, Versuch einer historischen Lautlehre der Kharia Sprache, Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, H. H.: 1974, Biological Systematics, New York: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saitou, N. and Nei, M.: 1987, ‘The neighbor-joining method: a new method of reconstructing phylogenetic trees’, Molecular Biology and Evolution 4, 406–425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saitou, N., Tokunaga, K., and Omoto, K.: to appear, ‘Genetic affinities of human populations’, in R.F. Roberts and Fujiki (eds.): Isolation and Migration, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sagart, Laurent: 1988, ‘On Gan-Hakka’, Tsing Hua Journal of Chinese Studies 18, 141–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savage-Rumbaugh, S. and Lewin, R.: 1994, ‘Ape at the brink’, Discover, September issue.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, Hongkai 孫宏開: 1989, 中國開展語言規劃工作的基本情況 ‘Zhongguo kaizhan yuyan guihua gongzuo de jiben qingkuang’, (Fundamental Aspects of Language Planning in China), Journal of Chinese Linguistics 17, 1–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sung, Margaret Y.: 1973, ‘A study of literary and colloquial Amoy Chinese’, Journal of Chinese Linguistics 1, 414–436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swadesh, M.: 1955, ‘Toward greater accuracy in lexicostatistical dating’, International Journal of American Linguistics 21, 121–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, Qixiang 譚其讓: 1982–7, 中國歷代地圖集 Zhongguo lidai ditu ji (Atlases of China through Historical Stages) Shanghai: Ditu Chubanshe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ting, Pang-Hsin: 1975, Chinese phonology of the Wei-Chin period: Reconstruction of the finals as reflected in poetry (Institute of History and Philology Special Publications No. 65), Taipei: Academia sinica.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ting, Pang-Hsin 丁邦新: 1982, 漢語方言區分的條件 ‘Hanyu fangyan qufen de tiaojian’, (Criteria for the Grouping of Chinese Dialects), Tsing Hua Journal of Chinese Studies 14, 257–273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ting, Pang-Hsin 丁邦新: 1988, 吳語中的閩語成分 ‘Wuyu zhong de Minyu chengfen’, (Min Elements in Wu Dialects), Zhongyang Yanjiuyuan Lishi Yuyan Yanjiusuo jikan (Bulletin of the Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica) 59, 13–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toodoo, Akiyasu 藤堂明保: 1957, 中國語音韻論,東京:江南書院.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Slyke, L. P.: 1988, Yangtze: Nature, History and the River, New York: Addison Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Li 王力: 1981, 中國語言學史 Zhongguo yuyanxue shi (History of Chinese Linguistic Studies), Taiyuan: Shanxi Renmin Chubanshe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, William S.-Y.: 1987, ‘Representing language relationships’, in H. Hoenigswald and L. Wiener (eds.): Biological Metaphor and Cladistic Classification, Pittsburgh: University of Pennsylvania Press, pp. 243–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, William S.-Y.: 1991a, Explorations in Language, Taipei: Pyramid Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, William S.-Y. (ed.): 1991b, ‘Languages and dialects of China’, Journal of Chinese Linguistics Monograph 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, William S.-Y.: 1993, ‘Glottochronology, lexicostatistics, and other numerical methods’, Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, William S.-Y.: 1994, ‘Three windows on the past’, Ms., Universirty of California, Berkeley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, William S.-Y. and Shen, Zhongwei 王士元,沈鍾偉: 1992, 方言關 係的計量表述 ‘Fangyuan guanxi de jiliang biaoshu’ Zhongguo Yuwen 227, pp. 81–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, William S-Y. and Lien, Chinfa: 1993, ‘Bidirectional diffusion in sound change’, in C. Jones (ed.), Historical Linguistics, Essex: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Yude 王育德 1960, ‘Chugoku godai hogen no bunretsu nendai no gengo-nendai-gaku teki shitan’ (Preliminary Investigation of Linguistic Chronology and the Split of the 5 Major Dialects of China), Gengo Kenyu 38, 33–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, Calvert: 1966, ‘Italo-Celtic revisited’, in H.Birnbaum and J.Puhvel (eds.): Ancient Indo-European Dialects, Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei, Qingwen 韋慶穩:1981, 越人歌與壯語的關係試探 ‘Yueren ge yu Zhuangyu de guanxi shitan’, (On the Realationship between Yue Songs and the Zhuang Language), Minzu Lunwenji, pp. 23–46, Beijing: Zhongguo Shehui Kexue Chubanshe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu, Tongjiang 徐通鏘: 1991, 歷$語言學 Lishi Yuyanxue (Historical Linguistics), Beijing: Shangwu Yinshuguan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin, Falu and Xu, Shu-an 陰法魯,許樹安 (eds.): 1989, 中國古代文化史 Zhongguo gudai wenhua shi (A History of Chinese Ancient Culture), Beijing: Beijing Daxue Chubanshe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin, Meng 因夢: 1958, 為什麼把客家話當作少數民族語言? ‘Weishenme ba Kejiahua dangzuo shaoshu minzu yuyan?’, (Why Treat Hakka as a Minority Language?), Zhongguo Yuwen 74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhan, Bohui and Cheung, Yat-Shing 謝白慧,張日昇 (eds.): 1987, 珠江三角 洲方言字音對照 Zhujiang sanjiaozhou fangyan ziyin duizhao (Sound Correspondance among the Pearl Delta Dialects), Hong Kong: Xin Shiji Chubanshe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhan, Bohui and Cheung, Yat-Shing 詹伯慧,張日昇 (eds.): 1988, 珠江三角 Zhujiang sanjiaozhou fangyan cihui duizhao (Lexical Correspondance among the Pearl Delta Dialects), Hong Kong: Guangdong Chubanshe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhan, Bohui and Cheung, Yat-Shing 詹伯慧,張日昇 (eds.): 1990, 珠江三角 洲1 方言綜述 Zhujiang sanjiaozhou fangyan (A General Description of the Pearl Delta Dialects), Hong Kong: Guangdong Chubanshe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, Tongmao et al.趙桐茂等: 1991, 中國免疫球蛋白同種異型的研究:中 華民族起源的一個假設 ‘Zhongguo mianyi danbai tongzhong yixing de yanjiu: Zhonghua Minzu qiyuan de yi-ge jiashe’ Yichuan Xuebao (Journal of Genetics) 18, 97–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • ‘Zhongguo Shaoshu Minzu’ Editorial Group 中國少數民族,編寫組: 1981, 中國少數民族 Zhongguo Shaoshu Minzu (Minority Nationalities in China), Beijing: Renmin Chubanshe.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. William S.-Y. Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Linguistics, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92717-5100, USA

    C.-T. James Huang

  2. Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures & Linguistics, University of Southern California, Log Angeles, CA, 90089-0357, USA

    Yen-hui Audrey Li

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1996 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wang, W.SY. (1996). Linguistic Diversity and Language Relationships. In: Huang, CT.J., Li, Yh.A. (eds) New Horizons in Chinese Linguistics. Studies in Natural Language and Linguistic Theory, vol 36. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1608-1_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1608-1_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-3868-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-1608-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation