On Language

"On Language" stands as the culminating masterwork of Gao Mingkai, one of China's most influential linguists. This monumental volume distills a lifetime of scholarly research into a comprehensive and systematic theory of language, now made accessible to an English-speaking audience.

The book is structured in three profound parts. It first explores the social dimensions of language, delving into its functions, the relationship between language and thought, and the critical distinction between language (langue) and speech (parole). The second part meticulously analyzes the internal architecture of language as a symbolic system, detailing its phonological, semantic, lexical, and grammatical structures. Finally, it ventures into the grand themes of linguistic origin, historical development, differentiation, unification, and future prospects.

More than just a textbook, this is a foundational pillar of modern Chinese linguistics. It is an indispensable resource for students and scholars of general linguistics, semantic theory, and the global history of linguistic science, offering a unique and authoritative perspective from a towering intellectual figure.