A Draft History of Chinese Grammar (Revised Edition)

Author: Shao Jingmin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features:
In recent years, several monographs on the history of Chinese grammar have been published, each with its own unique strengths. However, the Draft of the History of Chinese Grammar before me stands out with its distinctive features. First, it is indeed a "history," not just a chronological overview of grammar books. Throughout the book, the trajectory of the development of Chinese grammar research can be clearly traced. The author not only clarifies the narrative of the general history but also pays attention to the threads of specialized histories, thereby organically integrating the general and specialized histories. Second, it fully leverages its critical role, going beyond mere "narration without creation." The author offers unique perspectives on various grammatical schools and works, as well as systematic summaries of the research of some grammarians. It acknowledges historical achievements while also pointing out shortcomings from a developmental perspective. The analysis throughout the book is relatively fair, and the arguments are balanced. Third, the author pays ample attention to various branches of Chinese grammar research, such as comparative studies of ancient and modern grammar, comparative studies of Chinese and foreign grammar, spoken grammar, dialect grammar, and the history of Chinese grammar. Additionally, he notes the interdisciplinary research combining grammar with rhetoric, logic, and computer science, as well as theoretical research in Chinese grammar, including grammatical criticism, the history of grammar, and grammatical theory. These aspects are rarely covered in other monographs. In this sense, its scope is also the largest among works of a similar nature. Fourth, the author places particular emphasis on the renewal of theories and methods in Chinese grammar research. He not only provides specialized discussions on the influence and localization of traditional grammar, descriptive grammar, and transformation-generative grammar but also integrates this guiding principle into specific chapters. Fifth, the author has made valuable explorations in the theories and methods of researching the history of Chinese grammar, which are reflected in the "Introduction." He also elaborates on his understanding of the historical trends in the development of Chinese grammar. The five combinations he proposes—combining descriptive and interpretive research, grammar meaning and grammar form, static and dynamic research, micro and macro research, and factual and theoretical research—are well-founded. Sixth, the chapter arrangement of the book follows the principle of giving more attention to the present while briefly covering the past. It provides a relatively thorough discussion of Chinese grammar research since 1949, especially in the past decade. It is close to reality and speaks candidly, which is commendable. This draft was written by Comrade Shao Jingmin shortly after he graduated as a graduate student. As far as I know, it has been revised several times over the years, gradually maturing through careful reflection. I have always believed that Comrade Shao Jingmin was a suitable person to write this "draft of history." He graduated from the Chinese Department of Peking University's Chinese Language program in 1966, studying under renowned contemporary linguists such as Wang Li and Zhu Dexi. In 1978, he was admitted as a graduate student under Professor Wang Weixian of Hangzhou University and was later assigned to teach at the Chinese Department of East China Normal University in Shanghai. Clearly, he received a systematic education in linguistics and is familiar with both northern and southern contexts. At the same time, he participated in grammar discussion meetings for both the middle-aged and the young, playing a special role in bridging the three generations of scholars. He stands at the intersection of these northern, southern, middle-aged, and young layers, possessing a comprehensive and profound understanding of the history and current state of the field of grammar. Additionally, over the years, he has been diligent in his thinking and has dedicated himself to the study of modern Chinese grammar, publishing over a hundred papers that cover various areas of grammatical research. He has a deep understanding of the joys and challenges of grammatical research, allowing his critiques to be sharp and targeted rather than vague generalizations. As a reader, I have benefited greatly from reading this "draft of history." It is not only useful for those engaged in Chinese grammar research but also holds significant reference value for those in other fields of linguistics, as well as for those involved in language research and teaching. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely recommend this book to everyone.