Chinese Transitory Grammar Revolutionizes Language Studies in the 20th Century
The article discusses the evolution of Chinese grammar in the 20th century, influenced by Western theories. It outlines four stages of development: draft, change, development, and reconstruction. Ma Jianzhong introduced the concept of "grammatical theory on two levels" in 1898. Otto Jesperson's "The Philosophy of Grammar" inspired a new approach to grammar in Europe. Chinese Transitory Grammar follows two main lines: one focusing on universal rational grammar, the other on structuralism. The key idea is that the foundation of all languages is their meaning, and the merging of Eastern and Western grammars should prioritize semantic grammar.