A Handbook of Sinitic Languages, Dialects, and Non-standard Mandarin (Cambria Sinophone World Series) - Hardcover

Kubler, Cornelius C.; Lau, Clement Chu Sing

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1638571902 ISBN 13: 9781638571902

Publisher: Cambria Press, 2025

Synopsis

A Handbook of Sinitic Languages, Dialects, and Non-standard Mandarin offers a comprehensive analysis of the linguistic diversity across Chinese-speaking societies. Drawing on original research and leading scholarship, it examines major Sinitic families-Mandarin, Wu, Xiang, Gan, Hakka, Yue, and Min-highlighting structural features, geographic distribution, and sociolinguistic roles. It also explores non-standard Mandarin varieties shaped by contact with speakers' first languages. Comparative analyses of sixty-six expressions across ten languages are paired with annotated transcriptions and translations of sixteen speech samples from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. A Non-standard-Standard Mandarin conversion table, discussion of writing systems, and over an hour of audio recordings make this a vital resource for scholars, students, and advanced learners interested in the past, present, and future of Sinitic languages.

About this title

About the Authors

Cornelius C. Kubler is the Stanfield Professor of Asian Studies at Williams College, where he teaches courses in Sinitic languages and linguistics.

Clement Chu Sing Lau was Associate Dean of Libraries and Director of Zach S. Henderson Library at Georgia Southern University.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambria Press
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1638571902
• ISBN 13: 9781638571902
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 316