Contents

Chapters in this book

1. I-IV I
2. Acknowledgments V
3. Contents VII
4. Tables and maps XVI
5. Key to symbols XXI
6. Introduction 1
7. Chapter 1. The spoken language of the Xiang dialects 19
8. Chapter 2. Written language of the Xiang dialects 45
9. Chapter 3. Morphology and its evolution in the Xiang dialects 72
10. Chapter 4. Pronouns and their evolution in the Xiang dialects 114
11. Chapter 5. Adverbs and their evolution in the Xiang dialects 139
12. Chapter 6. The evolution of passive and disposal constructions in the Xiang Dialects 178
13. Chapter 7. Aspectual markers and their evolution in the Xiang dialects 207
14. Chapter 8. The evolution of structural particles in the Xiang dialects 266
15. Chapter 9. The modal particles in the Xiang dialects and their evolution 298
16. Chapter 10. The evolution of double-object and 催 de constructions in the Xiang dialects 327
17. Final remarks 364
18. Appendix 366
19. Notes 404
20. References 415
21. Index 434