Research on the Grammar of Ancient Chinese

Author: Fang Youguo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-02-01
Features: The so-called new approaches and methods are actually the historical-comparative method that many people have often mentioned. This method is not new; in the study of Chinese phonology in the 20th century, it has already demonstrated its power. Based on the mysterious and profound traditional phonology, this method has been established as a true scientific discipline. How should historical-comparative method be applied to the study of Chinese grammar? I have thought about this for many years and discussed it with several colleagues. I believe: First, the study of Chinese grammar should combine synchronic and diachronic research, but these two approaches must be strictly distinguished in practice. Second, grammatical materials in dialects need to be extensively explored and applied to historical-comparative research. Dialects are living fossils in historical evolution and can compensate for the severe lack of historical textual materials. If this material is fully explored and utilized, it can greatly improve the landscape of grammatical research. Third, comparing the grammar of Sino-Tibetan language families with Chinese is another new approach. Fourth, it is essential to fully inherit the achievements of traditional linguistic research and thoroughly master the documentary materials. Traditional Chinese grammar is included in textual exegesis, and the study of "Cang" and "Ya" is the foundation for researching Chinese grammar (including linguistics). If this foundation is not well established, it will be difficult to achieve high-level results.