Wang Li (linguist)
Wang Li | |
|---|---|
王力 | |
Professor Wang Li and Chen Yinke in front of Chen’s house at Lingnan University in 1947 | |
| Born | Wang Xiangying 王祥瑛 10 August 1900 |
| Died | 3 May 1986 Beijing, China |
| Other names | Liaoyi (了一) |
| Occupation(s) | Linguist, translator |
| Spouse | Xia Weixia (夏蔚霞) |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | Tsinghua University, University of Paris |
| Influences | Yuen Ren Chao, Liang Qichao, Wang Guowei |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Linguistics |
| Institutions | Tsinghua University, Sun Yat-sen University, Lingnan University, Peking University |
Wang Li (Chinese: 王力; 10 August 1900 – 3 May 1986), courtesy name Wang Liaoyi (王了一) and birth name Wang Xiangying (王祥瑛), was a Chinese linguist, educator, translator and poet, described as the founder of Chinese linguistics. His work expands a wide range in Chinese linguistics, including phonology, grammar and lexicography, historical linguistics and dialectal studies. He was also the founder of the first Chinese Linguistics Department at Tsinghua University. He brought the western modern linguistic methodologies back to China and strove for the modernization and reformation of Chinese grammar throughout his whole life. His most famous books include Zhongguo Yinyunxue 中国音韵学 (Chinese Phonology), Zhongguo Wenfa Chutan 中国文法初探 (An Exploratory Study of Chinese Grammar), and Wang Li Guhanyu Zidian 王力古汉语字典 (Wang Li's Character Dictionary of Ancient Chinese).