Comparative Chinese Dialectology

AY2017/2018 Semester 1

1. Language situation in China: an overview of different Chinese dialectal groups i Classification of Chinese dialects (Mandarin, Jin, Wu, Hui, Gan, Xiang, Min, Yue, Pinghua, Hakka) and their geographical distributions ii Minority languages in China iii Language policy and language attitude 2. Comparative studies: Mandarin in contrast with 2 other dialects from different dialectal groups. a Phonology i Vowel and consonant inventory ii Syllable structure iii Tonal system iv Tone sandhi b Syntax i The referential interpretation of noun phrases ii The use of classifiers iii The pronominal system/demonstrative system iv Nominal and verbal modification v Reduplication vi Compounding vii Question types and the composition/interpretation of question words viii The inventory of sentence-final-particles and their interpretations