Department of Asian and Asian American Studies
California State University, Long Beach
Fall 2008
CHIN 380

Course #10287 Section 1

Th: 2:00-4:45pm PSY-324
Topics in Chinese Linguistics: Introduction to Chinese

Dr. Tim Xie
Office: FO3-315; Telephone: (562) 985-5278
E-mail: txie@csulb.edu, URL: http://www.csulb.edu/~txie
Office Hours: Tuesdays. 2:00-5:00
or by appointment through email

Course Description and Objectives:

Lecture/discussion (3 hours a week) The Chinese language viewed in its social and linguistic context, synchronically and diachronically. Introduction to structure of modern standard Chinese, classical Chinese, the rise of written vernacular, script, dialect variations, sociolinguistic issues and Chinese information processing.

Students will learn basic knowledge about modern Chinese. This knowledge will help students better understand the structure of the language and its relationship to culture and history. Students will be able to examine linguistic as well as sociolinguistic issues in China from an academic perspective. They will be able to use concepts in phonology, vocabulary and grammar in their studies of the Chinese language and their future research.

Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to understand basic linguistic concepts of the Chinese language, analyze Chinese linguistic data, enhance their ability to continue to learn the language and have the ability to do research in the area of Chinese linguistics.

Class Procedures

The instructor will give lectures on each topic and lead discussions on reading assignments. Some lectures will be accompanied by appropriate audio-visual materials. The class will be primarily conducted in English with examples in Chinese with English translation to illustrate the major points in lectures. The lectures will be followed by classroom exercises. Students are required to actively participate in class discussion, review the covered chapters at home and complete homework in due time. Homework will be assigned in class.

Textbook: (Both books are reserved in the library)

1. Required: Norman, Jerry. Chinese. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. Call # PL1075 .N67 1988

2. Optional: Ramsey, R. The Languages of China. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1987. Call # PL1071 .R34 1987

3. Optional: Sun, Chaofen. Chinese: A linguistic Introduction. Cambridge University Press. 2006. Available at LINK+ library

Recommended Web Sites: (The following links may be inactive when you view them. Please try to find similar links or follow the updated information given by instructor)

· An interesting story with one syllable only: http://www.interlog.com/~mmt/Literacy_Book/DOCS/05.html

· Disyllabic words: http://www.interlog.com/~mmt/Literacy_Book/DOCS/02.html

· Mandarin Profile: http://www.lmp.ucla.edu/profiles/profm02.htm

· Wu-Shanghai dialect: http://www.fbyte.com/Shanghai/

· Kejia-Hakka dialect: http://www.asiawind.com/hakka/

· Cantonese Dictionary: http://hermEs.arts.cuHk.edu.hk/Lexis/Canton/

· Taiwanese: http://daiwanway.dynip.com/tw/index.shtml

· Dialects Speech Samples: http://www.ctlwmp.cityu.edu.hk/dialects/

· Shanghai Dialect Sample: http://chinese.ucdavis.edu/~txie/160/shanghai.wav

· Spelling systems: http://www.nyx.net/~jzhou/pinyin.html

· Chinese pronunciation: http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/chinlng1.html

· Six Principles of Writing: http://goingnet.shu.edu.tw/homepage/word/SIXBOOK.HTM

· Language and Writing: http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/chinlng2.html

· Laws and Regulations regarding language and script: http://www.fuodao.com.cn/law/fl/93/index.htm

· What is GB? http://ccic.ifcss.org/ftp-pub/software/info/cjk-codes/GB.html

· What is Big5? http://ccic.ifcss.org/ftp-pub/software/info/cjk-codes/Big5.html

· English-Chinese Information Technology Glossary: http://www.iscs.nus.sg/~colips/archives/glossary/glossary.html

Tests and Grading Policy:

The course grade will be based on a cumulative point-percentage system calculated from scores in the following categories:

Attendance 10%

Homework and classroom discussion 10%

Tests 20%

Project 20%

Midterm 20%

Final 20%

Total 100%

Grade scale:A (90-100%), B (80-89%), C (70-79%), D (60-69%), and F (below 60%)

The tests and exams will be given on the assigned dates only. No requests for taking the tests before or after the set date will be honored without a valid excuse or documentation.

Tentative Course Schedule (subject to change)

Week	Topic	Homework and Reading assignments (Supplementary readings and web research activities will be assigned in class)	Test
9/4, 9/11	Unit 1: The Chinese Language	Norman: Chapter 1; 2. Mandarin Profile http://www.lmp.ucla.edu/profiles/profm02.htm
9/18, 9/25	Unit 2 Chinese dialects	1. Ramsey: Chapter 1 (pp. 1-18) and Chapter 6 (pp 87-95, pp 98-107. Focus on Mandarin, Wu and Yue) (concise and clear description); 2. Optional: Norman: Chapter 8.1, 8.6, 8.8, 9.2 ( more detailed information about dialects); 3. Surf the web sites above to listen to Shanghai,Cantonese and Hakka dialects. Listen to a passage in Shanghainese (shanghai.wav 899K, Ramsey: page 94-95)	Test 1
10/2, 10/9	Unit 3 Phonology	1.Norman: 6.4, 6.5, 6.6; 2. Ramsey: pp 42-47.
10/16, 10/23	Unit 4 Vocabulary	1. Norman 7.2, 7.3, 7.4; 2. Ramsey: pp57-65.	Project topic due (10/16 email topic)
10/30, 11/6	Unit 5 Grammar	Ramsey: pp 66-75, 79-83; Norman: 7.6	Midterm (11/6)
11/13, 11/20	Unit 6 Script	Norman: pp58-73, 79-82; Ramsey: pp146-154.	Test 2 (11/20)
11/27,12/4	Unit 7 Varieties and changes	Norman: Chapter 10	Thanksgiving (11/27)
12/11	Review	Project presentation	Project due
12/18	Final examination		Final

University Withdrawal Policy

It is the students' responsibility to withdraw from classes. Instructors have no obligation to withdraw students who do not attend courses, and may choose not to do so. Withdrawal from a course after the first two weeks of instruction requires the signatures of the instructor and department chair, and is permissible only for serious and compelling reasons, such as documented illness and a change in work hours/schedule. Students should be aware that the definition of "serious and compelling reasons" as applied by faculty and administrators may become narrower as the semester progresses. During the final three weeks of instruction, withdrawals are not permitted except in cases such as accident or serious illness where the circumstances causing the withdrawal are clearly beyond the student's control and the assignment of an incomplete is not practical. Ordinarily, withdrawals in this category involve total withdrawal from the university. The College of Liberal Arts adheres to this policy strictly, and does not sign withdrawal forms in the final three weeks of class for other reasons.