A Draft History of Chinese Grammar (Revised Edition)

Author: Shao Jingmin
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-05-01
Features:
In recent years, several monographs on the history of Chinese grammar have been published, each with its own strengths. However, the Draft of the History of Chinese Grammar before me stands out with its unique features. First, it is indeed a "history" and not just a collection of brief introductions to grammatical works arranged chronologically. Throughout the book, the trajectory of the development of Chinese grammar research can be clearly traced. The author not only clarifies the general historical context but also pays attention to the evolution of specialized histories, thereby organically integrating general and specialized histories. Second, it fully leverages its critical role, going beyond mere description. The author offers original insights into various grammatical schools and works, as well as systematic summaries of the research of certain grammarians. It acknowledges historical achievements while also pointing out shortcomings from a developmental perspective, making the analysis fair and well-founded. Third, the author pays ample attention to various branches of Chinese grammar research, such as comparative studies between ancient and modern grammar, comparative grammar between Chinese and other languages, 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 grammatical thought, and the study of grammatical theory. These are aspects rarely covered in other monographs, making its scope the largest among comparable works in this field. Fourth, the author places great 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 transformational-generative grammar but also integrates this guiding principle into specific chapters. Fifth, the author makes 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, proposing five key combinations: combining descriptive and interpretive research, integrating grammatical meaning and form, merging static and dynamic research, linking micro and macro studies, and combining empirical and theoretical research. These suggestions are well-founded. Sixth, the book's chapter arrangement follows the principle of focusing more on the present while briefly covering the past. It provides a relatively thorough discussion of Chinese grammar research since 1949, especially in the last decade. It is close to reality and speaks candidly, which is commendable. This draft was written by Comrade Shao Jingmin shortly after his graduate studies, and to my knowledge, it has been revised several times over the years, gradually maturing through careful refinement. I have always believed that Comrade Shao Jingmin was well-suited to write this "draft of history." He graduated from the Chinese Department of Peking University's Department of Chinese 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. 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 discussions for both mid-career and young scholars, playing a unique role in bridging the gap between generations. He stands at the intersection of northern, southern, mid-career, and young scholars, 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 reflections and has dedicated himself to the study of modern Chinese grammar, publishing over a hundred papers on various aspects of grammatical research. He has a deep understanding of the challenges and key issues in the field, allowing his critiques to be sharp and insightful rather than vague. 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 provides important 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.