A Social View on the Chinese Language

Jerome L. Packard is Professor Emeritus of Chinese at the University of Illinois. Professor Packard received his PhD in Chinese linguistics from Cornell University and is the author of five books and over 30 articles on the Chinese language. Professor Packard has served as a Fulbright scholar in China and has taught Chinese at the University of Massachusetts, Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Illinois.

List of Figures – List of Tables – Acknowledgements – List of Abbreviations – Introduction – Chinese Language Origins – Chinese Regionalects – Chinese Writing and Reading – Learning Chinese – Chinese Language and the Brain – Chinese Language and Culture – What Can We Expect for the Chinese Language? – Index.

“Based on the latest research, this fascinating and highly readable new book covers a surprisingly wide range of topics related to the Chinese language, including less commonly discussed issues such as dyslexia, aphasia, psychological aspects of Chinese reading, and Chinese language and the brain—topics which the author is uniquely qualified to discuss. Ideal for students in introductory courses in Chinese linguistics, language students who wish to learn more about the background of the language they’re studying, and the general reader who is curious about this increasingly important language.”—Cornelius C. Kubler, Stanfield Professor of Asian Studies, Williams College