Linguistics

Author: Yuan Jiahua
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1980-04-01
Features: The author of this book, Leonard Bloomfield, is the founder of modern structuralism in linguistics and claims to be a mechanical materialist. When discussing various linguistic issues, the author starts from the practical application of language, elaborating on his original insights based on recognized standardized examples. The book "Language" was first published in New York, USA, in 1914 under the title "Introduction to the Study of Language." After revision and supplementation in 1933, it was renamed the current "Language" and published. A year later, it was republished in the UK with minor changes in content and format. In this book, the author adjusts certain arrangements in traditional grammatical systems, emphasizing the grammatical function of words in sentence structure. In the treatment of words, some of the author's views align with those of Otto Jespersen, but with a higher perspective, demonstrating originality. This book is suitable as a reference material for general linguistics courses and can also be read by general readers interested in linguistics. The Chinese translation of this book was completed in 1965. Chapters 1 to 10 and Chapter 16 were translated by Comrade Zhao Shikai of the Institute of Linguistics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Chapters 11 to 15 were translated by Comrade Gan Shifu of Peking University; Chapters 17 to 28 were translated by Comrade Yuan Jiahua. The manuscript was revised by Comrade Qian Jinhua in 1978. When the initial translation was completed in 1965, Comrade Wang Zongyan of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou and Comrade Liang Da of Renmin University provided valuable comments on the translation. After the manuscript was submitted, Comrade Liang Da of the Foreign Language Editing Department of the Commercial Press supplemented the translation of the original prefaces and conducted a unified and verification work on all proper nouns. Here, sincere thanks are expressed to the aforementioned comrades. Due to the nature of translation and proofreading, omissions and errors are inevitable, and I take full responsibility for them. I hope readers will promptly point out criticisms and corrections so that they can be revised for the second edition. The original book at the end includes three appendices: notes, reference, and an index. However, these appendices have been omitted in this Chinese translation.