Introduction to Cultural Linguistics

Author: Dai Zhaoming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1996-12-01
Features: The macro-structural arrangement of this book is also meticulously crafted, both reasonable and logical. The book is divided into two parts: the upper part is the general theory, and the lower part is the specific theory. Chapters 1-3 of the general theory cover the ontology and methodology of cultural linguistics, while Chapters 4-5 cover the historical theory of cultural linguistics. After reading the upper part, one can gain a general understanding of cultural linguistics. The specific theory focuses on the relationships between language and various major fields of culture, discussing relevant issues in turn, such as language and thought, philosophy, politics, mythology and religion, literature and art, folklore, and more. Whether in the general theory or the specific theory, the issues covered are quite broad. However, this book excels in being comprehensive without being superficial. It delves deeply into the topics it discusses. For example, regarding the relationship between language and philosophy, the book analyzes the process of language constructing philosophy, the speculative thinking of philosophy on language issues, and the research on mutual penetration and mutual promotion between language and philosophy. Similarly, concerning the relationship between language and politics, the book focuses on the essence of politics—"power"—discusses the issue of "status," and also touches on the politicization of language issues. The discussions of these topics require a broad foundation in reading. It is evident that the author of this book has put considerable effort into reading for its writing. This is the reason why, despite its relatively short length, the book appears substantial in content. Particularly commendable is the author's approach, which is not limited to citing written materials or others' examples. Instead, the author personally conducted field investigations in rural areas, collecting folk terms from dialects. This emphasis on firsthand materials enriches the book's content and allows us to learn many things previously unknown.
This is an excellent book with significant academic value. The publication of this book holds great significance for both cultural linguistics itself and Chinese linguistics. In terms of cultural linguistics, during the initial stages of its development as a discipline, the theoretical hypotheses proposed by researchers have, to be fair, been somewhat rough and superficial, with many of them being misleading and speculative. This book, however, presents theories that are more rigorous and systematic, which can help address these shortcomings. For the field of Chinese linguistics, the publication of this book can bridge the gap between scholars inside and outside the cultural linguistics community, not only helping outsiders dispel long-standing doubts but also providing them with many beneficial insights. Additionally, due to its in-depth yet accessible explanations, fresh and interesting examples, and fluent, natural writing style, the book will also be engaging and readable for those outside the field of linguistics. The completion of this book demonstrates that cultural linguistics is moving toward theoretical maturity, and it also reflects Zhaoming's own academic maturation. Seeing these developments brings me great joy, and that is why I was delighted to pen this preface.