Overview

Grounded in descriptive linguistics, this textbook introduces the basics of the major subfields of linguistics, as well as the Chinese writing system, for students with no prior linguistic training. It presents the Chinese language from the perspective of both modern linguistics and its longstanding philological legacy, as well as providing historical and sociolinguistic context. Chapters cover phonology and phonetics, morphology, lexicon, lexical semantics, syntax, sign language and braille. Authentic, real-world examples are drawn from Chinese newspapers, websites, and social media to facilitate meaningful linguistic analysis, while other examples contrast English and Chinese to help students grasp key concepts. Students will also benefit from the robust pedagogical approach, which includes learning objectives, guiding questions, checkpoint summaries, discussion questions, exercises, further readings, and bilingual glossaries. Supplementary resources provide answers to exercises, sample course syllabi, links to resources, and recordings of sounds.

Full Product Details

9781009381628

Table of Contents

Reviews

'This engaging and accessible textbook covers a wide range of topics in Chinese linguistics, blending general linguistic principles with vivid, memorable examples. Its well-structured chapters, featuring learning objectives, guiding questions, comprehensive exercises, and additional resources offer thoughtful support for both learners and native speakers. It makes teaching effortless, and I would happily adopt it in my courses.' Karen Huang, University of Auckland 'Featuring vivid, humorous, and up-to-date examples drawn from newspapers and social media, along with abundant exercises and stimulating discussion prompts, this textbook is exceptionally friendly to both instructors and learners. It seamlessly integrates general and Chinese linguistics, and its organization, beginning with aspects of modern Chinese linguistics and extending to historical and dialectal perspectives, makes it a genuinely enjoyable read.' Zhiying Qian, Florida State University 'Grounded in current scholarship, An Introduction to Chinese Linguistics is highly accessible and engaging to anyone, regardless of their knowledge of either Chinese or linguistics. The authors have done well to provide a broad and insightful analysis of the many different areas that linguistics covers, providing great insights, from contemporary grammar to old Chinese phonology. A perfect introduction to the subject or long-term reference for students, scholars, and beyond.' Justin Winslett, University of Sheffield 'This book offers a comprehensive and accessible introduction to Chinese linguistics. In addition to the expected subfields such as phonology, morphology, and syntax, it also introduces Chinese sign language and braille. The learning objectives and exercises provided in each chapter make the book an excellent resource for instructors and students.' Lan Zhang, University of Memphis

Author Information

Chan Lü is Associate Professor at the University of Washington, where she has been teaching Chinese and Chinese linguistics since 2016. Her expertise is on bilingual and biliteracy development. She has published widely in peer-reviewed journals on second language acquisition, bilingualism and bilingual education, and is the author of Chinese Literacy Learning in an Immersion Program (2019). Zev Handel is Professor at the University of Washington where he has been teaching Chinese linguistics for over twenty-five years. An expert in Chinese historical phonology and East Asian writing systems, he is most recently the author of Chinese Characters Across Asia: How the Chinese Script Came to Write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese (2025).

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