Modern Chinese: History and Sociolinguistics - Softcover

Chen, Ping

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521645727 ISBN 13: 9780521645720

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2008

Synopsis

The Chinese language, spoken by over one billion people, has undergone drastic changes over the past century in a way unparalleled at any time previously. This book presents a comprehensive account of the development of Modern Chinese from the late nineteenth century up to the 1990s, concentrating on three major aspects: Modern Spoken Chinese, Modern Written Chinese, and the Modern Chinese writing system. It describes and analyses in detail, from historical and sociolinguistic perspectives, the establishment and promotion of Modern Spoken Chinese and Modern Written Chinese and the reform of the Chinese script. Through an integrated discussion of these three areas of the language it highlights the close interrelationships between them and reveals the interaction of linguistic, historical and social factors in the development of Modern Chinese.

About this title

Review:

'Modern Chinese: History and Sociolinguistics is an excellent work, placing the development of modern Chinese in its social and historical context. Its publication is a great step forward for Chinese language studies and linguistics. It should be prescribed reading for all advanced students.' The Australian Higher Education

Book Description:

The Chinese language has undergone drastic changes over the past century. This book presents a comprehensive account of the development of Modern Chinese from the late nineteenth century to the 1990s, describing the establishment of Modern Spoken Chinese and Modern Written Chinese, and the reform of the Chinese script.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0521645727
• ISBN 13: 9780521645720
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 244