In the 1990's, the focus of phonological studies has changed from rule-based analysis to constraint-based analysis. The study of Chinese phonology has also undergone such a change, as have other area studies in Generative Phonology. Why and how this change has occurred, the difference between the two kinds of analyses, and what has really happened in phonology after the change are the primary concerns of linguists and anyone interested in the study of Generative Phonology or other area studies in Generative Linguistics. To answer these questions, one must: (1) review the developing process of the change, (2) compare the two kinds of analyses in terms of their different frameworks and research focuses, and (3) profile the studies in phonology (in any area studies) in recent years. Chinese Phonology in Generative Grammar is intended to offer such a review and comparison while outlining the studies in Chinese phonology. Eight unpublished papers written by seven authors are selected to cover the areas of field-work, dialectology, and synchronic studies of segmental and tonal systems of the Chinese language family. These papers are directly related to the theoretical issues in: (1) The SPE Model; (2) Lexical Phonology and Morphology; (3) Autosegmental Phonology; (4) Metrical Phonology; and (5) Optimality Theory. By putting the study of Chinese phonology into the generative perspective, this collection provides useful data for further theoretical work and draw significant feedback to the theory of Generative Phonology.

Table of Contents

Introduction: De Bao Xu, From Rule-base Analysis to Constraint-based Analysis. The SPE Model: Jianguo Shi, The Sound System of Shuyang Dialect. Lexical Phonology and Morphology: De Bao Xu, Lexical Third Tone Sandhi and the Lexical Organization of Mandarin. Autosegmental Phonology: Zhiming Bao, Sub-syllabic Processes and the Southern Min Syllable. Metrical Phonology: San Duanmu, Stress in Chinese. Hua Lin, Stress and the Distribution of the Neutral Tone in Mandarin. Optimality Theory: Moira Yip, Dialect Variation in Nasalization: Alignment or Duration? Yen-Hwei Lin, An Optimality-theoretic Account of Dialect Variation in Er Suffication: A Case Study of Shejiang Wu Dialects. Yen-Hwei Lin, Toward a Unified Account of Three Classes of Huojia Affixed Words.

Author Biography

After spending seven years as a farmer in the countryside to receive the so called 'secondary education from the peasants' (1968-1975) and three years as a worker in Taiyuan Railroad Company in China (1975-1978), De Bao Xu went to college in 1987 although he did not have a chance to go to High School during the Cultural Revolution. He received his MA in History of the Chinese Language at Beijing Normal University (1985), MA in Chinese Linguistics (1989) and Ph.D. in Linguistics (1991) at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He started teaching in 1991 and is Associate Professor of Chinese at Hamilton College. He is also the Editor-in-Chief (with James Huang) of Contemporary Linguistic Theory Series (8 volumes, China Social Sciences Publishing House, Beijing, 1997-99), co-author of Generative Phonology-Theory and Usage, and co-translator of A Short History of Linguistics (Robins, 4th edition, Longman, English to Chinese, China Social Sciences Publishing House 1997). His research interest lies in theoretical phonology and Chinese phonology. He has also published papers in Chinese Historical Linguistics.