Topic Structure of the Chinese Language: Structural and Functional Analysis

The current book is the first systematic exposition and analysis of the structure and meaning aspects of the Chinese topic-comment structure.While early analyses of the Chinese topic (and topicalization) phenomena abound, in terms of its theoretical depth and empirical breadth the current book is unparalleled.The phenomenon of topics is a core concept in modern linguistics, and its research significance extends beyond the scope of Chinese linguistics, being a topic of common concern in the international linguistic community.Based on the theoretical background of Universal Grammar and linguistic typology, the patterns of Chinese topics have strong consequences for the general linguistic theory, inform linguistic typology and lay the foundation for subsequent research.It is thus long overdue to translate the current book into English so that the insights, empirical generalizations and findings can reach a wider, global audience. The original Chinese title, co-authored by two leading Chin