The book is a comprehensive typological study of coordinating conjunctions in Sinitic languages and other languages worldwide, focusing on the grammaticalization pathways through which conjunctions emerge. Utilizing an extensive database of coordinating conjunctions, including first-hand data from 234 Chinese dialects and 45 non-Sinitic languages, as well as 830 sets of second-hand data, this research aims to reconstruct the primary grammaticalization paths of coordinating conjunctions in Sinitic languages while making typological generalizations and classifications. The study contributes to the understanding of how coordinating conjunctions develop in various languages and sheds light on the typological patterns that emerge across languages.

Chan, Kevin Kin-wing is Assistant Professor in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature and the director of The Language Center (Chinese Section) at Hong Kong Shue Yan University. His research interests include modern Chinese grammar, historical linguistics, and linguistic typology. He received The Vice-Chancellor’s Exemplary Teaching Award at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (2016). He was the finalist for the Young Scholar Award by Contemporary Linguistics (2018).