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Geographic structure of Chinese dialects

A computational dialectometric approach

Bibliographic Data

ID10296368
AuthorsHe Huang (0009-0008-2154-0694, Institute of Modern Languages and Linguistics , 12478 Fudan University , Shanghai , China, corresponding author), J Grieve (0000-0003-3630-7349, University of Birmingham), Lei Jiao (0000-0001-5075-0588, School of Literature , 47885 Jinan University , Guangzhou , Guangdong , China), Zhuo Cai (0009-0006-1649-4094, Department of Computer Science , 1724 University of Birmingham , Birmingham , UK)
Year2024
Volume62
Issue4
Pages937-976
Publication date2024-07-26
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLinguistics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0024-3949 • E-ISSN: 1613-396X
PublisherWalter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1515/ling-2021-0138
OpenAlexW4395010390
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited21

Dialect classification is a long-standing issue in Chinese dialectology. Although various theories of Chinese dialect regions have been proposed, most have been limited by similar methodological issues, especially due to their reliance on the subjective analysis of dialect maps both individually and in the aggregate, as well as their focus on phonology over syntax and vocabulary. Consequently, we know relatively little about the geolinguistic underpinnings of Chinese dialect variation. Following a review of previous research in this area, this article presents a theory of Chinese dialect regions based on the first large-scale quantitative analysis of the data from the Linguistic Atlas of Chinese Dialects, which was collected between 2000 and 2008, providing the most up-to-date picture of the full Chinese dialect landscape. We identify and map a hierarchy of 10 major Chinese dialect regions, challenging traditional accounts. In addition, we propose a new theory of Chinese dialect formation to account for our findings

Geography · Linguistics · Computer Science · History · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Philosophy

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Unique citing works1
Citations per year1
Citation span2025 - 2025 (1)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 1

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