Abstract. The notions "topic" and "commentary" over the years evoke robust discussions among the linguists. Though these terms were studied in great detail the opinions on their role at the sentence and discourse level still differ. Among the different topic structure conceptions including classical, syntactic, textual, psycholinguistic, typological-stylistic and universal interpretations the works of the professor of Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shi Dingxu are worth special mention. The article describes Shi Dingxu’s basic conceptions of the so called "Chinese topic" represented in his papers of 1998 and 2000.
Key words and phrases: топик, комментарий, топиковые структуры, топик китайского типа, синтаксис китайского языка, topic, commentary, topic structures, Chinese topic, Chinese syntax
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References:
Chao Y. R. A grammar of spoken Chinese. Berkeley - Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1968. 846 p.
Li Ch. N., Thompson S. A. Mandarin Chinese: a Functional Reference Grammar. Berkley: Univ. of California Press, 1981. XVIII+691 p.
Shi Dingxu. The nature of Chinese topics // Modern Foreign Languages. 1998. Vol. 2. P. 40-50.
Shi Dingxu. Topic and Topic-Comment Constructions in Mandarin Chinese // Language. 2000. № 76.2. P. 383-408.
Shi Dingxu. Topic Chain as a syntactic category in Chinese // Journal of Chinese Linguistics. 1989. Vol. 17. P. 223-262.
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