Chinese Lexicology

Author: Song Junfen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-12-01
Features: "A Study of Chinese Lexicology" is a branch of Chinese linguistics, alongside Chinese studies, phonology, and grammar. Chinese lexicology takes words (including idioms) and vocabulary in Chinese as its research objects. To better advance political, economic, and cultural construction, the state places great importance on language education and the use of Chinese characters and language, proposing three major tasks: the reform of Chinese characters, the promotion of Mandarin, and the implementation of Chinese standardization, along with formulating a series of policies for these purposes. Social needs have prompted scholars to conduct in-depth research on Chinese from various perspectives. Broadly speaking, "A Study of Chinese Lexicology" should include Chinese semantics, Chinese etymology, Chinese lexicography, and Chinese rhetoric. Narrowly defined, Chinese lexicology studies the internal structure of words in Chinese, the formation and development of words, their standardization, semantic relationships between words, word meaning evolution, and the word meaning system. In terms of research objects, Chinese lexicology belongs to specific lexicology (as opposed to general lexicology). Depending on the research perspective, Chinese lexicology is further divided into descriptive Chinese lexicology (also known as static lexicology) and historical Chinese lexicology.