Varieties Of Chinese

AY2015/2016 Semester 1

This course introduces students to the varieties of Chinese as surfaced in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Topics cover social factors leading to the variation, characteristics of the varieties, comparison between the varieties, phenomenon in language standardization and modernization, issues in language contact: language interference, convergence and divergence, language change and identity among others. The course aims to build an understanding on the relation between language and society such that learners are better prepared to communicate across the changing forms.