This course is a basic introduction at the graduate level to methods and materials in Chinese historical phonology, focusing on Middle Chinese. Reading ability in Chinese is required. Topics covered include periodization of the Chinese language; source materials for reconstructing earlier stages of the language; traditional Chinese phonological categories and terminology; fǎnqiè spellings; major reconstruction systems; the use of reference materials to determine reconstructions in these systems; and critical views of methodology and results. While the focus of the course is on Middle Chinese, issues related to Old Mandarin and Old Chinese may also be touched on, as time and student interest permits.
Prerequisites: Students should have taken Chinese 342 or 442, or the equivalent, and be familiar with articulatory phonetics concepts and terminology, including the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), and with general notions of historical sound change. Reading ability in Chinese is required.