Zhoutun

This book provides a comprehensive description of the grammar of Zhoutun, an endangered Sinitic variety spoken by less than 1000 people in the Qinghai Province of northwest China. With vocabulary predominantly from Chinese and Tibetan syntax, Zhoutun is one of the Sinitic varieties most distant from Standard Chinese, featuring unexpected typological features such as case markers, rigid SOV word order, simplified tonal system, negative copula, and locutor-referential pronoun. It also explores the sociolinguistic and sociohistorical contexts of Zhoutun, making it valuable for specialists and students of language contact, linguistic typology, Chinese dialectology, language geography, anthropological linguistics, sociolinguistics, folklore studies, and preservation of endangered languages.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 162 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate grammar of Zhoutun, an endangered Sinitic variety spoken by a mere 1000 people in the Qinghai Province of northwest China. With a vocabulary predominantly drawn from Chinese and Tibetan syntax, Zhoutun stands as one of the Sinitic languages farthest from Standard Chinese, exhibiting unique typological features such as case markers, rigid SOV word order, simplified tonal system, the use of negative copula as a disjunctive coordinator, and the absence of locutor-referential pronouns found in Chinese and many other languages. Moreover, Zhoutun holds significance as a representative variety of the Gansu-Qinghai linguistic area, where Mongolic, Turkic, Tibetan, and Chinese dialects have coexisted for centuries.

In addition to providing a detailed grammatical analysis, this book also offers a rich sociolinguistic and sociohistorical backdrop to Zhoutun. It sheds light on the social and cultural factors that have influenced the language's evolution and preservation, making it an invaluable resource for specialists and students engaged in language contact, linguistic typology, Chinese dialectology, language geography, anthropological linguistics, sociolinguistics, folklore studies, and the preservation of endangered languages.

By exploring the grammar and sociocultural contexts of Zhoutun, this book contributes to our understanding of the diverse linguistic landscapes and the challenges faced by minority languages in the modern world. It serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving and promoting these languages for the enrichment of our linguistic heritage and the preservation of cultural diversity.

Weight: 330g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032113180