Intensive Seminars on Old Chinese Phonology
Short description
The first "Intensive Seminar on Old Chinese Phonology" was held from September 5 through September 16, 2005. The first week of the seminar familiarised the participants with Middle Chinese and Old Chinese pronunciation, the use of relevant reference books, and the evaluation (and construction) of arguments which involve early pronunciation. The second week focused on specific problems involving early texts, and applying the information covered in the first week.
The second "Intensive Seminar on Old Chinese Phonology" was held from August 8 through August 18, 2006. Since the first seminar was designed as a general introduction to Old Chinese phonology, it was directed at a wide selection of scholars whose research touches upon the topic. The 2006 meeting, in contrast, had a focus more Sinological. The seminar aimed to accommodate the particular needs of students of early Chinese excavated texts (of whatever physical carrier, be it bronze, bone, bamboo, stone, or silk). As such, it combined issues concerning Old Chinese phonology with those of Old Chinese paleography.
The third "Intensive Seminar on Old Chinese Phonology" will be held from 30 July through 10 August 2007. The 2007 meeting shall deal with more detailed issues of Old Chinese phonology and paleography. In particular, we plan devote some time to the medial *-r- in Old Chinese, Old Chinese morphology, and the origin of the Old Chinese rhyme groups (yùn bù), among others. During the second week, we shall discuss phonological and paleographical issues by focusing on excavated manuscripts. As in the years before, Dr. Baxter will teach the seminar. For the second week of the workshop, we plan to invite a paleography specialist from China to attend the seminar. Accordingly, the second week of the seminar will be hold in Chinese.
Partners
Professor William H. Baxter (University of Michigan)
Dr. Imre Galambos (British Library, London)
Professor Chen Jian (Shanghai University)
Contact details
Dirk Meyer (convener)
Leiden University
Department of Chinese Studies / Research School for Asian, African, and Amerindian Studies (CNWS)
E-mail: d.meyer@let.leidenuniv.nl