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Synchrony vs. Diachrony in Language Structure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 March 2026

Charles N. Li
Charles N. Li*
Affiliation:
University of California, Santa Barbara
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Abstract

A number of syntactic constructions in Mandarin Chinese are analysed—which, synchronically, are unrelated and highly irregular. However, all reflect a diachronic drift from VO to OV typology which has been operating in Mandarin Chinese. In the light of this diachronic drift, the syntactic constructions can be viewed as structures in transition, and the synchronic irregularities as manifestations of the transitional process.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Language , Volume 51 , Issue 4 , December 1975 , pp. 873 - 886
Copyright
Copyright © 1975 Linguistic Society of America

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