跨級比較與漢藏語研究

Cross-comparison and Sino-Tibetan Linguistics

本文討論歷史語言學中的跨級比較、跨級構擬的方法。首先論述跨級比較、跨級構擬的定義；其次分析印歐語裡的經典例子；然後闡述語言譜系和下位分類的特性和跨級比較、跨級構擬的合理性；最後來討論漢藏語研究中的跨級比較和跨級構擬的實例。

Cross-comparison in Sino-Tibetan has recently become controversial. In this paper, I argue that cross-comparison is both useful and valid for Sino-Tibetan. The paper has five parts: (1) definitions of cross-comparison and cross-reconstruction; (2) a discussion of standard examples of cross-comparison in Indo-European; (3) an argument attempting to validate cross-comparison considering the nature of the language family and its subgrouping; (4) a survey of some classic crosscomparison studies in Sino-Tibetan; and (5) a conclusion.