SPEAKERS OF THE NON-HAN LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS IN CHINA
| Author: | Shearer, Walter Sun, Hongkai | |
| Year: | 2002 | |
| Pages: | 320 | |
| ISBN: | 0-7734-7306-8 978-0-7734-7306-5 | |
| Price: | $219.95 + shipping | |
| (Click the PayPal button to buy) | ||
This monograph is a compilation of first-language speaker populations and other data of all the non-Han languages and dialects of China (including Taiwan) identified as of the end of 1998. It makes available for the first time in English information about these populations and contains the latest data on newly identified languages and dialects that have not yet been published. The information for each language includes: name(s) and dialects known; populations for each; locations of speakers in China and neighboring countries; intelligibility information; official nationality classification of the speakers; and alternate classification or status designations that have been proposed.
Reviews
“. . . a useful compilation of statistical data concerning the dozens of non-Han languages and dialects of China. Precise information is provided on the geographical distribution of the languages, the most plausible estimates are given as to the number of native speakers, the confusing welter of alternate language-names is clarified, and bibliographical references are made to Chinese scholarly studies of the languages. The languages are assigned to their genetic families according to the opinions of Chinese linguists, with alternative classifications given in some cases. . . . a most useful reference tool for non-Chinese scholars interested in the rich panoply of non-Chinese languages spoken on the territory of China.” – James A Matisoff
“. . . clearly important and timely both for scholarly research and as a means of informing policy makers and the general public. It will also be a strong impetus ensuring the compilation of even more accurate data in future censuses of China. The work meets the highest scholarly standards. While it is based primarily on official Chinese sources, the authors have also meticulously consulted other sources, and have indicated where different sources give conflicting information or use alternative nomenclature. There simply is no other source where one finds equivalent material with this breadth, depth, and accuracy. . . . It will be a standard reference work, and hopefully a model for similar works in the future, including those dealing with future demographic trends among the non-Han languages of China.” – Bernard Comrie
“. . . clearly important and timely both for scholarly research and as a means of informing policy makers and the general public. It will also be a strong impetus ensuring the compilation of even more accurate data in future censuses of China. The work meets the highest scholarly standards. While it is based primarily on official Chinese sources, the authors have also meticulously consulted other sources, and have indicated where different sources give conflicting information or use alternative nomenclature. There simply is no other source where one finds equivalent material with this breadth, depth, and accuracy. . . . It will be a standard reference work, and hopefully a model for similar works in the future, including those dealing with future demographic trends among the non-Han languages of China.” – Bernard Comrie
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Explanation of the Tables
Manchu-Tungus Languages
Turkic Languages
Mongolian Languages
Korean Language
Indo-European Languages
Kam-Tai (Zhuang-Dong) Languages
Tibeto-Burman Languages
Miao-Yao Languages
Austro-Asiatic Languages
Austronesian Languages
Unclassified (Mixed) Languages
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Explanation of the Tables
Manchu-Tungus Languages
Turkic Languages
Mongolian Languages
Korean Language
Indo-European Languages
Kam-Tai (Zhuang-Dong) Languages
Tibeto-Burman Languages
Miao-Yao Languages
Austro-Asiatic Languages
Austronesian Languages
Unclassified (Mixed) Languages
Bibliography
Index