Reflecting on the "clash of civilizations" as its point of departure, this book is based on a series of sixteen of the author's interconnected, thematically focused lectures and calls for new perspectives to resist imperialistic homogeneity. Situated within a neo-humanist context, the book applies interactive cognition from an Asian perspective within which China can be perceived as an essential "other," making it highly relevant in the quest for global solutions to the many grave issues facing mankind today. The author critiques American, European, and Chinese points of view; highlighting the significance of difference and the necessity of dialogue; before ultimately, rethinking the nature of world literature and putting forward interactive cognition as a means of "reconciliation" between cultures. Chinese culture, as a frame of reference endowed with traditions of "harmony without homogeneity", may help to alleviate global cultural confrontation and even reconstruct the understanding of human civilization. The book will be essential reading for scholars and students of Comparative Literature, Chinese Studies, and all those who are interested in cross-cultural communication and Chinese culture in general.

Presents a unique description of lexis and syntax of Chinese Examines the influence of Western languages on Mandarin Chinese A classic work on Chinese grammar by one of the most distinguished Chinese linguists

Presents a unique description of lexis and syntax of Chinese Examines the influence of Western languages on Mandarin Chinese A classic work on Chinese grammar by one of the most distinguished Chinese linguists

Presents a unique description of lexis and syntax of Chinese Examines the influence of Western languages on Mandarin Chinese A classic work on Chinese grammar by one of the most distinguished Chinese linguists

Presents a unique description of lexis and syntax of Chinese Examines the influence of Western languages on Mandarin Chinese A classic work on Chinese grammar by one of the most distinguished Chinese linguists

Reflecting on the "clash of civilizations" as its point of departure, this book is based on a series of sixteen of the author's interconnected, thematically focused lectures and calls for new perspectives to resist imperialistic homogeneity. Situated within a neo-humanist context, the book applies interactive cognition from an Asian perspective within which China can be perceived as an essential "other," making it highly relevant in the quest for global solutions to the many grave issues facing mankind today. The author critiques American, European, and Chinese points of view; highlighting the significance of difference and the necessity of dialogue; before ultimately, rethinking the nature of world literature and putting forward interactive cognition as a means of "reconciliation" between cultures. Chinese culture, as a frame of reference endowed with traditions of "harmony without homogeneity", may help to alleviate global cultural confrontation and even reconstruct the understanding of human civilization. The book will be essential reading for scholars and students of Comparative Literature, Chinese Studies, and all those who are interested in cross-cultural communication and Chinese culture in general.

This four-volume set is an English translation for the first time of a Chinese linguistics classic on modern Chinese grammar by WANG Li, one of the most distinguished Chinese linguists. Based on the corpus of two classic Chinese novels, the book describes the various linguistic patterns of modern Chinese grammar, encompassing syntax, lexis and the Western influence on modern Chinese. As a groundbreaking work of modern Chinese linguistics, the book highlights the special linguistic qualities of Chinese language, contrasting with those of Indo-European languages. These are embodied by the structure of book with a strong focus put on the syntax and a short yet reasonable length for lexis. It also examines the influence of Western languages on Mandarin Chinese, giving insights into the cultural and diachronic aspects of Chinese language. The author offered one of the first attempts in applying the ideas of Otto Jespersen and Leonard Bloomfield to the description of modern Chinese grammar and further developed their theory. The book is a must read for both Chinese language learners as well as researchers and students studying Chinese linguistics and modern Chinese grammar.