Asymmetry and Markedness Theory II

Form and Meaning

Shen Jiaxuan

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English

Routledge
25 September 2025

Historical & comparative linguistics

Series: Chinese Linguistics

This second volume examines asymmetry in language by focusing on how linguistic form and meaning align or diverge.

Building on the concepts introduced in Volume 1, this volume analyzes symmetry and asymmetry in form-meaning relations using examples from antonym pairs, subject-object contrasts, and the markedness patterns of adjectives. It integrates several linguistic levels, emphasizing how functional and cognitive factors drive these phenomena. The concluding discussion posits that asymmetry persists as a core feature of language, whereas symmetry is conditional and transient.

This volume will appeal to linguists, language educators, and anyone seeking deeper insights into linguistic structure and function, particularly in Chinese linguistics, markedness research, and comparative language studies.

By: Shen Jiaxuan
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781041094432
ISBN 10: 1041094434
Series: Chinese Linguistics
Pages: 344
Publication Date: 25 September 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , College/higher education , Undergraduate , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Shen Jiaxuan is Professor of Linguistics at the Institute of Linguistics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. His main research interests include Chinese grammar, English–Chinese comparative grammar, and general linguistic theory. His recent publications with Routledge include Nouns and Verbs in Chinese I: Facts and Theories and Nouns and Verbs in Chinese II: Consequences and Prospects.