Overview

This second volume examines asymmetry in language by focusing on how linguistic form and meaning align or diverge. Building on the concepts introduced in Volume 1, this volume analyzes symmetry and asymmetry in form-meaning relations using examples from antonym pairs, subject-object contrasts, and the markedness patterns of adjectives. It integrates several linguistic levels, emphasizing how functional and cognitive factors drive these phenomena. The concluding discussion posits that asymmetry persists as a core feature of language, whereas symmetry is conditional and transient. This volume will appeal to linguists, language educators, and anyone seeking deeper insights into linguistic structure and function, particularly in Chinese linguistics, markedness research, and comparative language studies.

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9781041094432

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Shen Jiaxuan is Professor of Linguistics at the Institute of Linguistics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. His main research interests include Chinese grammar, English–Chinese comparative grammar, and general linguistic theory. His recent publications with Routledge include Nouns and Verbs in Chinese I: Facts and Theories and Nouns and Verbs in Chinese II: Consequences and Prospects.

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