Bulletin of Chinese Liguistics
Table of Contents [in pdf]| Style Sheet
Preface to Inaugural Volume
August. 2002. His portrait appeared on the screen. The meandering chanting of a poem in the Rúgāo 如皐 dialect filled the air.
哀思竟日不能忘…憶昔從遊舍路西…誰將古韻從頭說…
憶昔訪師檀島東…紅人舊語誰能識…泰典書成百世功…
It tugged at the heart. A classroom in Thompson Hall with lofty pines soaring by the window…a nook on the fragrant isle with gentle sea breeze sweeping by…a hut on the treasure island with sprawling bamboos and kingly palms…Scene after scene floated in the minds of those in the audience.
A group of his students, members of his family, his close friends and admirers gathered after the International Symposium Commemorating the Centennial Birthday of Professor Li Fang-Kuei and decided to set up something permanent with which to remember this master scholar, who had carved monumental works in Chinese linguistics, Tai linguistics and American Indian linguistics. Within minutes, this group of people, some already with silvery streaks of hoary hair, promptly pledged donations totaling US$100,000 toward this goal.
Although these naive 書獃子-turned-organizers-overnight bumped into various unexpected obstacles on the way, their spirit was undaunted, their dream never shattered. Through the generous assistance of several attorneys at the Garvey, Schubert, Barer Law Firm in Seattle, a non-profit organization, the Li Fang-Kuei Society for Chinese Linguistics 紀念李方桂先生中國語言學研究學會, was established on October 1, 2003.
The goal of the Society is not only to honor this great scholar-linguist, who founded a distinguished tradition of research and teaching in Chinese linguistics in the United States and China, but also to serve as a venue for continuing this excellent tradition of his, supporting and encouraging the highest standards of research and scholarship in the academic discipline of Chinese linguistics in an international context. We are heartened by the enthusiastic support from four corners of the world and shall keep striving for progress in our mission. So far we have set up an annual Li Fang-Kuei Award in two categories to encourage young scholars in producing writings of high quality (Please see announcement in this issue).
Professor Li’s contribution to linguistics is global and many-faceted. His keen insight, great intellect, and profound knowledge as conveyed through his writings have influenced directly or indirectly subsequent generations of scholars. In appreciation of his contribution to the academic community worldwide, the Society has launched this Bulletin of Chinese Linguistics 中國語言學集刊 as a permanent tribute to him.
The Bulletin of Chinese Linguistics is a joint publication supported by the Li Fang-Kuei Society for Chinese Linguistics and the Center for Chinese Linguistics of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The journal publishes research in Chinese linguistics with a special focus on historical comparative study and dialectal research. Its areas of interest also include Sino-Tibetan and other languages related to Chinese.
What better token of reverence can we give to this great master than devoting ourselves to research in a manner worthy of continuing the great tradition, striving to shed new light, explore new horizons, as he had shown us through the milestones he erected?
方死方生火不盡 桂花謝了百花開
徐往徐來清淨土 櫻紅世世李邊栽
Editors-in-chief
May 20, 2006
中國語言學集刊
發刊詞
二零零二年八月一個絢爛的早上。堂中高懸的布幔上投射著李方桂先生的照相。嘴角微掀，慈祥的笑容，溫文儒雅。二十韻的追悼長詩，他的學生正用如皋鄉音吟誦。聲聲傳來，觸動心弦。
哀思竟日不能忘…憶昔從遊舍路西…誰將古韻從頭說…
憶昔訪師檀島東…紅人舊語誰能識…泰典書成百世功…
是華大Thompson Hall 教室窗外，蒼松磊落；是檀洲一角，春風微拂；是寶島雅築，紫竹橫延，勁櫚高聳。在座各人心頭湧起一幕一幕的往事回憶。
紀念李方桂先生百年冥誕國際學術研討會在華盛頓大學舉行。會後，李先生的家人，弟子和許多友人，聚在一起商討。有年輕的，也有不少兩鬢已經花白。
大家興致很高。李先生在漢語，泰語，和紅印第安語各方面的研究，著書立說，貢獻至鉅。為了紀念這位一代學人，大家一致同意應該做一些更有意義的長遠安排。話猶未了，已經有人認捐，即席籌得十萬美金，作為籌備李方桂學會這項工 作的基金。
我們這些人平常都是躲在書房中教室裡工作的書獃子。辦起這些事來，熱情有餘，經驗不足。在籌組的過程中，碰到許多預想不到的困阻。但是,殷勤心切，無名的執著，鍥而不捨。其後在幾位熱心的律師大力協助之下，終於在二零零三年十月一日成立紀念李方桂先生中國語言學研究會。
成立學會的宗旨，一方面是為了紀念這位語言學大師畢生對開發中國語言學的研究，在中美各地教學，栽培後學而獲得的豐碩成果；另一方面，我們更希望能通過這個學會來繼承李先生的治學傳統，薪火相傳，為中國語言學研究建立一個更廣闊的國際平台。我們的理念和努力，引起世界各地許多有心人的積極支持。我們為此而感到鼓舞，我們也以此鞭策，努力向前邁進。學會現已設立李方桂語言學論著獎，鼓勵青年學者撰寫並出版具高水平的學術著作。（有關論著獎詳請附後。）
李先生對語言學的貢獻是多方面的，更具有普世性的影響。我們從他許多的著作中，可以看到他的卓識學養，他的智慧熱誠，他對後來者的影響，道以言傳，一代復一代。學會出版《中國語言學集刊》，就是希望通過這一份刊物，開設一個永久性的學術基地，作為對李先生景仰的一個具體表現。
《中國語言學集刊》由紀念李方桂先生中國語言學研究會和香港科技大學中國語言學研究中心共同出版，刊載中國語言學學術論文，舉凡和中國語言，漢藏語，或其他與漢語有關語言的研究，特別是重點在歷史比較和方言研究的文稿，皆所歡迎。
方死方生火不盡 桂花謝了百花開
徐往徐來清淨土 櫻紅世世李邊栽
李先生在學術研究上樹立楷模。我們向這位一代學人表達最高崇敬的方式，就是秉承他的治學精神，群策群力，攜手共同開發新範疇，探討新課題，尋找新 發現。哲人雖去，但是蹊徑已闢，播種耕耘的工作，我們責無旁貸。我們願以此互勉。
編輯
二零零六年五月二十日