A First Course in Literary Chinese

By Harold Shadick and Ch'iao Chien

This book is intended to provide a foundation in the grammar of classical Chinese on which the student who plans to specialize in classical studies can build, and to give the student of modern Chinese sufficient knowledge of literary Chinese for his purposes. The material was developed over twenty years for use in the course "Introduction to Classical Chinese," as taught at Cornell University, where students of Chinese history and literature began their study of the literary language after one year of modern Chinese, and students in modern fields after two years. It is therefore assumed that the student can already pronounce Chinese words, use a system of romanization, read and write a few hundred Chinese characters, and understand simple passages of modern Chinese. Volume II of this work consists of vocabularies for all of the texts and exercises in Volume I.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801498384
• ISBN13: 9780801498381
• Release Date: December 1968
• Publisher: Cornell University Press
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.5" x 10.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Strongly recommended.

I emphatically recommend Prof. Shadick's 3-volume course. Its strongest point must be its commitment to a thoroughly systematic grammar. Shadick provides a comprehensive terminological framework which he then teaches the student to apply in the analysis of Classical Chinese expressions - from simple to complicated (mainly original passages from authentic Wenyen texts). In this way, the student is equipped with a firm, solid KNOWlEDGE of how the language works, instead of just a more or less vague FEELING (often based, as it is the case with students of Sinology, on their misleading experience with Modern Chinese.) Admittedly Shadick's method is time- and energy-consuming. His consistent emphasis on systematic grammar and unwillingness to compromise in technical matters makes his book less attractive to those with little time on their hands. However, for those willing to commit to Classical Chinese, it will prove the invaluable introductory course at the beginning, and an unfailing reference guide in the future. Strongly recommended.