Anybody who reads or writes Chinese characters knows that they obey a grammar of sorts: though numerous, they are built out of a much smaller set of constituents, often interpretable in meaning or pronunciation, that are themselves built out of an even smaller set of strokes. This book goes far beyond these basic facts to show that Chinese characters truly have a productive and psychologically real lexical grammar of the same sort seen in spoken and signed languages, with non-trivial analogs of morphology (the combination of potentially interpretable constituents), phonology (formal regularities without implications for interpretation), and phonetics (articulatory and perceptual constraints). Evidence comes from a wide variety of sources, from quantitative corpus analyses to experiments on character reading, writing, and learning. The grammatical approach helps capture how character constituents combine as they do, how strokes systematically vary in different environments, how character form evolved from ancient times to the modern simplified system, and how readers and writers are able to process or learn even entirely novel characters. This book not only provides tools for exploring the full richness of Chinese orthography, but also offers new ways of thinking about the most fundamental question in linguistic theory: what is grammar?

This book is intended for Western students of the Chinese language who wish to take the Chinese language proficiency exam ((??????Hànyu Shuipíng Kaoshì), HSK) either for academic reasons when planning to enroll for studies at a university in Mainland China or for any other professional or personal reasons. This book contains lists of vocabulary and Chinese characters that students are required to know for the six different levels of the HSK exam. It is intended as a reference guide to essential vocabulary and Chinese characters as well as to the grammar aspects that will be requested within the exam in one of the various ways of the communicative tasks assigned to the candidate. This book should be used in conjunction with the official monolingual textbooks available for each level of the HSK exam as a guide of bilingual reference throughout the preparation process for the exam at each proficiency level. There is an optional interactive multimedia application that can be used in combination with the book, its features and benefits are described on the last two pages of the book. The application can be downloaded free of charge by anyone who has purchased a copy of the book.

A Reference Grammar of Chinese is a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to the linguistic structure of Chinese, covering all of the important linguistic features of the language and incorporating insights gained from research in Chinese linguistics over the past thirty years. With contributions from twenty-two leading Chinese linguists, this authoritative guide uses large-scale corpora to provide authentic examples based on actual language use. The accompanying online example databases ensure that a wide range of exemplars are readily available and also allow for new usages to be updated. This design offers a new paradigm for a reference grammar where generalizations can be cross-checked with additional examples and also provide resources for both linguistic studies and language learning. Featuring bilingual term lists, this reference grammar helps readers to access relevant literature in both English and Chinese and is an invaluable reference for learners, teachers and researchers in Chinese linguistics and language processing.

The many different mathematical techniques used to solve pattem recognition problems may be grouped into two general approaches: the decision-theoretic (or discriminant) approach and the syntactic (or structural) approach. In the decision-theoretic approach, aset of characteristic measurements, called features, are extracted from the pattems. Each pattem is represented by a feature vector, and the recognition of each pattem is usually made by partitioning the feature space. Applications of decision-theoretic approach indude character recognition, medical diagnosis, remote sensing, reliability and socio-economics. A relatively new approach is the syntactic approach. In the syntactic approach, ea ch pattem is expressed in terms of a composition of its components. The recognition of a pattem is usually made by analyzing the pattem structure according to a given set of rules. Earlier applications of the syntactic approach indude chromosome dassification, English character recognition and identification of bubble and spark chamber events. The purpose of this monograph is to provide a summary of the major reeent applications of syntactic pattem recognition. After a brief introduction of syntactic pattem recognition in Chapter 1, the nin e mai n chapters (Chapters 2-10) can be divided into three parts. The first three chapters concem with the analysis of waveforms using syntactic methods. Specific application examples indude peak detection and interpretation of electro cardiograms and the recognition of speech pattems. The next five chapters deal with the syntactic recognition of two-dimensional pictorial pattems.

This book compares the historical development of ideas about language in two major traditions of linguistic scholarship from either end of Eurasia – the Graeco-Roman and the Sinitic – as well as their interaction in the modern era. It locates the emergence of language analysis in the development of writing systems, and examines the cultural and political functions fulfilled by traditional language scholarship. Moving into the modern period and focusing specifically on the study of “grammar” in the sense of morph syntax/ lexico grammar, it traces the transformation of “traditional” Latin grammar from the viewpoint of its adaptation to Chinese, and discusses the development of key concepts used to characterize and analyze grammatical patterns.

ING_08 Review quote

This heavy-duty Shōtōkan encyclopedia, dictionary, lexicon, glossary, and linguistic tool: ✓ Teaches how to analyze and understand karate vocabulary. ✓ Breaks the Karate terms into their building blocks and puts an emphasis on the basic main building blocks of the karate language. ✓ Systematically analyses over a 100 of basic Karate Kanji for deep understanding of the terms, names, and concepts. ✓ Corrects many conceptual and linguistic common mistakes. ✓ Provides links between different Karate expressions. ✓ Presents different translations from Japanese to English. ✓ Presents different Japanese writings. ✓ Includes phonetic spelling. ✓ Refers to important sources. ✓ Addresses the Chinese origins. ✓ Includes Comprehensive index. ✓ Includes Wide-ranging bibliography. ✓ Includes 500 values | 1,800 cross-references | 175 kanji. ✓ Includes special bonuses. ✓ Perfect for both beginners and senior instructors. ✓ Perfect for English speakers. ✓ Perfect for a clearer and deeper understanding of the Karate vocabulary, substantively and linguistically. --- More information: This robust Karate lexicon of over 500 carefully selected representative values and references: Key words, core commands and general vocabulary such as postures, stances, Kata names, techniques, moves, thrusts, punches, strikes, blocks, kicks, body parts, styles, people, places, and other topics related to traditional Japanese Shōtōkan Karate and other Funakoshi Karate organizations such as Shotokai. A perfect gift for your Karate instructor, fellow Karate practitioners, or your Karate students. Language: English Paperback: 325 pages Item Weight: 1.25 pounds Dimensions: 7 x 0.74 x 10 inches --- Presentation: Karate jargon is integral to everyday practice. Without solid understanding of the Karate vocabulary, it is easy to fall into technical and conceptual errors. The purpose of this Shotokan dictionary is to bring the reader closer to the Karate terminology we so often use, but so rarely explore. This book can be described as a Japanese-English Shotokan dictionary, as well as a heavy-duty professional glossary of Karate terms related to Funakoshi styles. It can also be defined as a Shotokan encyclopedia or as a Karate lexicon, which focuses on the linguistic aspects of Karate phrases. Through the language, we dive into Karate itself. Although planned for senior Karate instructors, absolute beginners may also benefit from this Karate wordlist. As for its content, the main goal – naturally – is to translate from “Karate language” to English. The book offers various English definitions of the Japanese technical terms, making it a powerful Japanese-English dictionary of the terms used in Karate. Sometimes the Karate meaning does not overlap with the general meaning of a word. If the common, or general, Japanese translation of a Karate term may be relevant, we bring it as well. It was Seneca who said: “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable”. If we were to achieve a high standard of execution, we cannot afford not to understand – literally - the Karate commands. A clear understanding of the Karate terms is indispensable. Breaking down Karate expressions into their building blocks, does seem to achieve a deeper understanding of them. This Karate glossary puts a special emphasis on the important Kanji, including thorough Kanji-analysis and relevant cross-references. Deep meanings of important Shotokan expressions are sought, and their links to other Karate words are drawn. In our opinion, the references are this book’s greatest virtue, and we urge our dear readers to be diligent and to follow them – especially when it comes to the Kanji that compose the value. A large part of this Shotokan glossary is devoted to pronunciation issues. This Karate wordbook presents different Kanji readings, which may be very important in the case of several terms that have a common Kanji. Critical phenomena in Japanese phonology, such as the rendaku rules, are addressed too. Besides transliterations of Japanese and Chinese into the Latin alphabet (romanization, Rōmaji), the advanced user will find logographic Kanji and syllabic Kana. Often, alternative writings are presented, so the reader can make better use of other sources – especially Japanese sources. --- Introduction During a Gasshuku (合宿) (training camp) that took place in Israel in 2022, Yaniv Murciano Sensei was correcting his disciples’ Kankū-dai. Talking about the finishing double kick, he asked everyone what Nidan-geri means. Whan the practitioners said that it means a double kick, the Sensei’s response was: “so You should kick twice, not once”. Indeed, Nidan-geri (p. 184) is not Tobi-geri (p. 245). The former is less about flying. The name reminds us to perform the technique better. Our words affect our insights, and our perceptions determine the words we are using. FUNAKOSHI Sensei and other masters had profound knowledge, not only of the Chinese classics[i] and the Japanese culture, but also of the Japanese language[ii]. The names that we use in our Karate trainings were not chosen lightly nor accidentally. As for us, those names have great significance. “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”, says Juliet in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In Karate’s case, we humbly prefer Confucius’s[iii] approach. In the words of the Chinese philosopher Feng Youlan (1895 – 1990)[iv]: Every name possesses its own definition, which designates that which makes the thing to which the name is applied be that thing and no other. In other words, the name is that thing’s essence or concept. What is pointed out by the definition of the name ‘ruler,’ for example, is that essence which makes a ruler a ruler. In the phrase: ‘Let the ruler be ruler,’ etc., the first word, ‘ruler,’ refers to ruler as a material actuality, while the second ‘ruler’ is the name and concept of the ideal ruler. Take the example of the name Jitte (p. 111). If a day comes, when they debate about how many hand movements there are in the opening of the Kata, the name of the Kata will be there to help. Some are going to realize, that there are Ten Hands - meaning ten palm strikes - up to the first Kiai; this understanding will derive from the name of the Kata. Some of the ten hand strikes are simultaneous. So, the right answer, they will hopefully conclude, is three. But why Japanese, one asks; You can say Double Kick or Ten Hands in any language. First, it is a tradition. Second, we feel connected to something bigger than our Dōjō[v]. And indeed, in mutual training, correspondence, etc., we can communicate well with people that do not speak our language. The Japanese parts of our Karate-pidgin are a common ground. But most importantly, studies show that language influences the way we think[vi]. The Chinese philosopher Dong Zhongshu (179–104 BC) used etymology as a hermeneutic tool[vii]: The present generation is ignorant about human nature, giving various teachings about it. Why do they not try to examine the name “nature”? Does not the name “nature” (xìng 性) mean “birth” (shēng 生)? The capacity that one naturally has at birth is what is called the “nature”. The nature is one’s mere potential. Accordingly, if we want to understand what it means to be a warrior, we should look at the Kanji for warrior. That is what the Chinese King Zhuāng of Chǔ (7th century B.C.) did. The Kanji for warrior is 武 (p. 45). If one looks carefully, one can see that this Compound Logogram is composed of the Radical 止 (p. 271) which could mean to stop – just as in our yame {{止め}} (p. 270), and from the Stem 戈 (dagger-axe). We should never look at the command Yame in the same way again. Putting an end to violence is indeed the highest level of the art of war; that was the King’s conclusion, based on the Logogram[viii],[ix]. For us, the language and the Sino-Japanese Logograms are indispensable for understanding Karate, from technique to spirit. --- The back cover text: Front cover: Shōtōkan symbol’s ancient forefather. Karate is analogous to a tree. We are sitting on a very high branch. Sometimes we are looking down at the stem beneath us, and sometimes not. Anyways, the important and interesting things are in the roots, which are invisible to the average instructor. We do not even know where our symbol came from. In all my writings, including the dictionary you are holding, I do my best to shed light on those roots. Here, we try to get a clearer and deeper understanding of linguistic aspects. I hope you will find this book informative and useful, and wish you a pleasant read. Adam Dobrzyński --- TAGS: JKA gift Shotokan gift Karate gift Shotokan basics Shotokan textbook Karate terminology Karate vocabulary Karate lexicon Japanese encyclopedia terminology vocabulary language jargon lexicon karate basic words karate advanced terms karate basic terms key words and commands shotokan key terms

First Published in 1996. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The Routledge Handbook of Chinese Language and Culture represents the first English anthology that delves into the fascinating and thought-provoking relationship between the Chinese language and culture, exploring various macro and micro perspectives. Chinese culture boasts a history of ten thousand years, while the Chinese language’s recorded history spans at least three thousand years, dating back to the Shang dynasty oracle bone inscriptions (OBI). This handbook is comprised of 17 chapters from 18 scholars including Victor Mair and William S-Y. Wang. Many chapters approach their respective topics with a comprehensive and historical outlook. Certain extensive subjects are addressed in multiple chapters, complementing one another. These topics include: The languages and peoples of China, and the southern Chinese dialects Mandarin’s evolution into a national language and its related writing reforms Language as a propaganda tool in the Cultural Revolution and in contemporary China Chinese idioms and colloquialisms This book offers an approachable exploration of the subject, appealing to both specialists and enthusiasts of the Chinese language and culture.

This is the first book in Chinese linguistics which discusses the grammar of a dialect group, in this case the Xiang dialect spoken in Hunan, from both a synchronic and diachronic prespective. The author uses new data and new frameworks to present her analysis. The synchronic part covers contemporary grammar across localities within the Xiang-speaking area by using the methods and theories of comparative and typological linguistics. The diachronic analysis reconstructs earlier grammatical systems based mainly on modern data but also on historical written records, and analyses the development of the syntactic systems of the Xiang dialects, adopting the methods and theories of historical linguistics and grammaticalization. The discussions in this book raise new issues on dialect research which have not yet been fully acknowledged by Chinese dialectologists. The author shows, for example, how the earlier layers of grammar may be reconstructed on the basis of modern data, and how the path of grammaticalization of functional words may be traced. The discussions reveal that the Xiang dialect group forms a transitional zone between northern and southern dialects. The syntactic constructions in these two areas often co-exist or are mingled in Xiang. Thus, the grammatical constructions in different localities of the Xiang dialect group often provide a bridge connecting the constructions of northern and southern Chinese, or Modern Chinese and Chinese of earlier periods. This book is of interest to scholars and students who are working on grammar, dialectology, historical linguistics, comparative linguistics, typological linguistics, and grammaticalization, as well as those researchers focusing on language policy, language acquisition, and education.