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Part of
Introducing Chinese Linguistics: A handbook for Chinese language teachers and learners
Hang Zhang and Lan Zhang
[Studies in Chinese Language and Discourse 16] 2022
► pp. 1–24

Chapter 1
Introduction to linguistics and Chinese language

Before delving into Chinese linguistics, this chapter provides readers with accessible introductions to major concepts and terms within contemporary linguistics, followed by a succinct overview of second language acquisition theory and research, and concludes with a brief but comprehensive background on Mandarin Chinese, including Chinese dialects. If you have never taken a linguistics class, understanding these basic linguistic concepts will help you identify and analyze Mandarin Chinese patterns in and out of this book.
Article outline
  • 1.1Basic concepts of general linguistics
    • 1.1.1What is language
      • 1.Arbitrariness
      • 2.Duality
      • 3.Displacement
      • 4.Patterning
      • 5.Productivity
    • 1.1.2What is linguistics
      • 1.1.2.1Some basic distinctions in linguistics
        • 1.Speech and writing
        • 2.Descriptive or prescriptive
        • 3.Competence and performance
      • 1.1.2.2The scope of linguistics
  • 1.2Second language acquisition
    • 1.2.1Linguistics and language teaching
    • 1.2.2Interlanguage
    • 1.2.3First language transfer
    • 1.2.4L2 developmental errors
    • 1.2.5Universal constraints and individual differences
  • 1.3The Chinese language and dialects
    • 1.3.1The terms
    • 1.3.2The seven major dialects
      • 1.3.2.1Mandarin (Northern dialects)
      • 1.3.2.2Southern dialects
    • 1.3.3Lingua franca
  • 1.4The creation of the modern standard Chinese
  • Exercises
  • Note
  • Further readings
Published online: 14 December 2022
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https://doi.org/10.1075/scld.16.c1
References (3)
Further readings
Aitchison, J. (2010). Part one: Starting out. Understand Linguistics. Aitchison’s Linguistics. Teach Yourself, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Google Scholar
Chao, Y. R. (1980). 第一、十、十一讲，《语言问题》, 商务印书馆. Chapter 1, 10, and 11. [Problems of Language]. Beijing: The Commerce Press.Google Scholar
Norman, J. (1988). Chapter 1, 8, and 9. Chinese. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar