Grammaticalization and Language Change in Chinese: A formal view (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780415336031)

This innovative study on the phenomenon of 'grammaticalization' and its manifestation in Chinese provides new insights into language change in Chinese and a large number of grammatical topics. Grammaticalization occurs in all of the world's languages. Xiu-Zhi Zoe Wu demonstrates general linguistic principles present and active in the phenomenon of grammaticalization whilst also describing the modelling of language in formal theoretical approaches to syntax; so this book fills two major gaps in the current study of linguistics. Grammaticalization and Language Change in Chinese illuminates how studies of language development and change provide special insights into the understanding of current, synchronic systems of language. Using patters from Chinese, the author establishes cross-linguistic generalizations about language change and grammaticalization. This book should be of great interest to Chinese linguists and readers interested in language change in different languages.

Author: Xiu-Zhi Zoe Wu
ISBN-10: 0415336031
ISBN-13: 9780415336031
Publisher: Routledge
Language: English
Published: 07/22/2004
Pages: 336
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.40lbs
Size: 9.28h x 6.36w x 0.94d