Back Cover Blurb
- Few Westerners set out on the task of learning Chinese. Those who do, and many others besides, need an outline of the language in terms of its history, structure and present state.
- This clear and comprehensive book provides an ideal survey. Richard Newnham explains the ideograms and tonal forms which are the main features that differ from languages of the West, and suggests how these affect and modify the exchange of ideas among the Chinese themselves.
- Syntax and grammar come in as 'functions’ met as the student may expect them; but readers of whatever stripe will gain enough from the more general discussion to make an approach to two Chinese texts at the close of the book. These (a classical poem and a modern lecture) are analysed with a minimum of technicalities.
- China's attempts to reform her language touch on social and political issues of enormous importance, many of them today involving the outside world as never before.
Contents
Acknowledgements – 7
The Chinese examples – 9
Definitions – 11
- Sounds – 19
- Script – 34
- Reform: 1 – 50
- Words – 62
- Reform: 2 – 72
- Functions – 80
- Number – 81
- Verbal attributes – 84
- Measures – 87
- Pre-statements – 91
- Verb compounds – 95
- Overloading – 99
- Antithesis – 103
- Directionals – 107
- Aspect – 111
- Relatives – 117
- Passives – 120
- Resultatives – 124
- Some questions for Mr Li – 131
- Texts – 134
- Radicals – 142
- Writing – 150
- Simplification – 163
- Romanization – 169
Booklist – 176
Book Comment
Pelican, Penguin Books, Revised Edition 1987.
Text Colour Conventions (see disclaimer)- Blue: Text by me; © Theo Todman, 2025
- Mauve: Text by correspondent(s) or other author(s); © the author(s)