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Chapter 9. Describing and learning the Chinese languages

Innovation in Western language pedagogical tools of the late Ming and late Qing periods
  • Mariarosaria Gianninoto
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Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching
This chapter is in the book Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching

Abstract

The first works on Chinese languages destined for Western learners were compiled at the end of the 16th century, but it was not until the 19th century that such works were compiled in significant numbers. In these works, Western categories and paradigms were largely adopted and adapted. However, elements from Chinese linguistic and didactic traditions were also integrated, and innovative devices were developed to face the epistemological challenge of analysing and describing distant languages. This chapter analyses the linguistic descriptions contained in the pedagogical tools compiled in the late Ming and Qing periods, focusing on the innovations promoted by the contacts between different linguistic and didactic traditions and underlining their impact on the history of Chinese (applied) linguistics and language learning.

Abstract

The first works on Chinese languages destined for Western learners were compiled at the end of the 16th century, but it was not until the 19th century that such works were compiled in significant numbers. In these works, Western categories and paradigms were largely adopted and adapted. However, elements from Chinese linguistic and didactic traditions were also integrated, and innovative devices were developed to face the epistemological challenge of analysing and describing distant languages. This chapter analyses the linguistic descriptions contained in the pedagogical tools compiled in the late Ming and Qing periods, focusing on the innovations promoted by the contacts between different linguistic and didactic traditions and underlining their impact on the history of Chinese (applied) linguistics and language learning.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Information about the authors vii
  4. Introduction
  5. Chapter 1. How can perspectives from Applied Linguistic Historiography improve our understanding of innovation? 2
  6. Part I. Product innovation
  7. Chapter 2. Tart–scriblita–torta–torte–torta–tortilha: A piece of cake! 24
  8. Chapter 3. Teaching phraseology in the 19th century 43
  9. Chapter 4. Innovation in monolingual English learner’s dictionaries 59
  10. Part II. Innovation through scientific discovery
  11. Chapter 5. La linguistique appliquée 82
  12. Chapter 6. Classroom-oriented teacher research in modern languages 104
  13. Part III. Oscillations along a continuum
  14. Chapter 7. Change without innovation? 122
  15. Chapter 8. “Reflection on language” 137
  16. Part IV. Adaptation in specific contexts
  17. Chapter 9. Describing and learning the Chinese languages 164
  18. Chapter 10. Curriculum innovation through concept borrowing 180
  19. Chapter 11. Beyond written texts 199
  20. Index 217
https://doi.org/10.1075/aals.20.09gia

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Information about the authors vii
  4. Introduction
  5. Chapter 1. How can perspectives from Applied Linguistic Historiography improve our understanding of innovation? 2
  6. Part I. Product innovation
  7. Chapter 2. Tart–scriblita–torta–torte–torta–tortilha: A piece of cake! 24
  8. Chapter 3. Teaching phraseology in the 19th century 43
  9. Chapter 4. Innovation in monolingual English learner’s dictionaries 59
  10. Part II. Innovation through scientific discovery
  11. Chapter 5. La linguistique appliquée 82
  12. Chapter 6. Classroom-oriented teacher research in modern languages 104
  13. Part III. Oscillations along a continuum
  14. Chapter 7. Change without innovation? 122
  15. Chapter 8. “Reflection on language” 137
  16. Part IV. Adaptation in specific contexts
  17. Chapter 9. Describing and learning the Chinese languages 164
  18. Chapter 10. Curriculum innovation through concept borrowing 180
  19. Chapter 11. Beyond written texts 199
  20. Index 217
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