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AProf Grace Zhang

PhD in Linguistics (University of Edinburgh, UK)
MA in Chinese Linguistics (Sun Yat-sen University, China)
Image of Staff Member
    • Role:
    • Associate Professor
    • Department:
    • Department of Asian Languages
    • Location:
    • Humanities 408
    • Telephone:
    • +61 8 9266 3478

Grace is an Associate Professor in linguistics and Chinese language studies, Convener of the Chinese Programme at Curtin University. Grace has had 25 years of tertiary experience in teaching Chinese in China, the UK, New Zealand and Australia, and her teaching ratings generally lay within the range of 'good' to 'very good. In addition to undergraduate courses, she has also taught Honours and Masters classes in Chinese language, linguistics and translation. She has a well developed research profile and substantial publications, demonstrated through her research achievements in recent years (1997-2009), including four books (plus another four textbooks) and numerous refereed articles. The impact of her research is evidenced by excellent book reviews, book prizes, a second edition, citations, membership of editorial boards and invited plenary addresses at international conferences. She is a very experienced supervisor, having supervised a number of PhD, Masters, and Honours students in the past 10 years. She welcomes postgraduate students' applications (Hons, MA and PhD), please contact her at Grace.Zhang@exchange.curtin.edu. She is also contributing to the development of Chinese language programmes undertaken by the Western Australia Curriculum Council.

She is a linguist by training, with a Ph.D. in Linguistics awarded by the University of Edinburgh in 1996 (thesis title: The Semantics of Fuzzy Quantifiers) and an MA in Chinese Linguistics awarded by Sun Yat-Sen University in 1982, China.


Grace has extensive experience in conducting industrial and corporate training and consultancy in Chinese language and culture.

 

Research Interests

Grace's current research projects are on fuzzy language in business negotiations, cross/inter-cultural communication and Chinese synonyms. The study of vague language emphasizes connections between regularities and irregularities that are often ignored. The significance of the research is to challenge the traditional thinking that a proposition is either true or false and to emphasize that a proposition could be true/false to a certain degree. It raises a serious question about any linguistic theories that are based on a binary assumption.

Along with years of teaching experience, Grace is also a well established researcher. Her research areas are Chinese Linguistics, Linguistics, Language Studies, specializing in semantics and pragmatics. Other research interests are translation and Chinese language education. She has published eight books and numerous refereed articles. Grace is an internationally recognized scholar in vague language, evidenced by excellent book reviews, extensive citations, a second edition, reviewer of scholarly journals, and membership of international editorial boards.

Potential Postgraduates (Honours, MA and PhD)

Grace is an experienced supervisor of postgraduate students, and has supervised numerous research projects. Grace supervises research projects with a strong focus on Chinese language/cultural studies, linguistics, communication and translation. She welcomes research students and more than happy to talk to you. Please contact her (Grace.Zhang@exchange.curtin.edu.au)
if you are interested in doing a research project in linguistics/intercultural communication/language studies/translation.

Research Projects

1 Vague/fuzzy language

2 Cross/intercultural Communication

3 Chinese Synonyms

4 Request Strategies

5 Fuzzy Language in Business Negotiations

6 Advertising Language

Publication List

Grace Zhang’s publication list

Books

1) Using Chinese Synonyms. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010, pp. 448

[ISBN: 9780521617871]

http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521617871

http://www.amazon.com/Using-Chinese-Synonyms-Grace-Zhang/dp/0521617871

2) (Co-authored with Yongju RUE) Request Strategies: A Comparative Study in Mandarin Chinese and Korean. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins, 2008, pp. 320 [ISBN 978-90-272-5421-4] http://www.benjamins.com/cgi-bin/t_bookview.cgi?bookid=P%26bns%20177

3) (Co-edited with Shuping SHEN, as Chief Editor) Shangwu Yingyu Fanyishi Kaoshi Peixun Jiaocai(Biyi [Business English: Textbook for Professional Translators’ Accreditation (Translation)]. Beijing: Zhongguo Shehui Kexue Chubanshe [China Social Sciences Press], 2007, pp. 389 ISBN [978-7-5004-6010-7] http://www.csspw.com.cn/Goods/GoodsDetail.aspx?GoodsId=1070902847

4) (Co-edited with Shuping SHEN, as Chief Editor) Shangwu Yingyu Fanyishi Kaoshi Peixun Jiaocai (Kouyi) Business English: Textbook for Professional Interpreters’ Accreditation (Interpreting)]. Beijing: Zhongguo Shehui Kexue Chubanshe [China Social Sciences Press], 2007, pp. 379 [ ISBN 978-7-5004-6010-7 http://www.csspw.com.cn/Goods/GoodsDetail.aspx?GoodsId=1070902847

5) Mohu Yuyixue [Fuzzy Semantics]. Beijing: Zhongguo Shehui Kexue Chubanshe [China Social Sciences Press], 2004 (second edition)/1998 (first edition), pp. 235 (The second edition is a revised and updated version, with a new chapter added) [ISBN 7-5004-2075-7 H.43]

http://www.bookschina.com.tw/2114011.htm (2004, second edition)

http://www.modernchinese.com/YuYanXue/yuyanxue_02/s99_077.htm (1998, first edition)

6) (Co-authored with Adam Lam) An Advanced Chinese Reader (the sequel to An Intermediate
Chinese Reader). Dunedin: The University of Otago Press, 2000, pp. 199 [ISBN1-877133-64-7].

http://www.otago.ac.nz/press/booksauthors/catalogue_author.html#z

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Advanced-Chinese-Reader-Adam-Lam/dp/1877133647

7) Mohu Yuyanxue [Fuzzy Linguistics]. Dalian: Dalian Chubanshe [Dalian Publishing House], 1998, pp. 207 [ISBN 7-80612-448-9/H.23]. http://www.dushu.com/book/10289972/

8)  An Intermediate Chinese Reader. Dunedin: The University of Otago Press, 1997, pp. 204 [ISBN 1-877-13333-7] http://www.otago.ac.nz/press/booksauthors/catalogue_author.html#z

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intermediate-Chinese-Reader-Qiao-Zhang/dp/1877133337

http://www.abbeys.com.au/items.asp?id=39751

Book Chapter

9) Hanyu mohu yuyi de bianyixing [Variability of fuzzy meaning in Chinese]. In Xingkui LIet al. (Eds.) Yuyan yu Zhexue [Language and Philosophy]. Guangzhou: Guangdong Chubanshe [Guangdong Press], 1990: 12-20.

Journal articles

Zhang, Grace 2011. Elasticity of vague language. Intercultural Pragmatics 8 (4): 571–600.

http://www.reference-global.com/view/j/iprg.2011.8.issue-4/IPRG.2011.026/IPRG.2011.026.xml?format=INT

10) (Co-authored with Chen-Hsin TANG) A contrastive study of compliment responses among Australian English and Mandarin Chinese speakers. Journal of Pragmatics 2009, 41(2): 325-345

http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/505593/description#description

11) (Co-authored with Jian SANG) Communication across languages and cultures - A perspective of brand name translation from English to Chinese. Journal of Asian Pacific Communication, 2008, 18(2): 226-247. http://www.benjamins.com/cgi-bin/t_seriesview.cgi?series=japc

12) (Co-authored with Chiung-wen LIU) Translation of Chinese xiehouyu (sayings) and relevance theory. Across Languages and Cultures, 2006, 7(1): 49-76. http://espace.lis.curtin.edu.au/archive/00001001

13) Fuzziness and relevance theory. Waiguo Yuyan Wenxue [Foreign Language and Literature Studies], 2005, 22(2): 73-84. http://espace.lis.curtin.edu.au/archive/00001003

http://scholar.ilib.cn/Abstract.aspx?A=wgyywx200502001

14) Grice’s maxims and the principle of selectiveness: an advertising language perspective. Fu Jen Studies: Literature & Linguistics, 2004, 38: 127-144.

http://espace.lis.curtin.edu.au/archive/00001002/ http://www.eng.fju.edu.tw/fjs/indexsearch.html

15) Fuzziness-vagueness-generality-ambiguity. Journal of Pragmatics, 1998, 29 (1): 13-31.

http://espace.lis.curtin.edu.au/archive/00002164/

Example of citations: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3852/is_200301/ai_n9213264/pg_14

16) Mohu liangci yuyi de xingshi chuli [Formal treatment of the semantics of fuzzy quantifiers].

Ziran Bianzhengfa Yanjiu [Studies in Dialectics of Nature], 1998, 14 (Supplement): 39-51.

http://ckrd.cnki.net/GRID20/Navi/item.aspx?NaviID=1&BaseID=ZRBZ&NaviLink=

17) Guangyi liangci lilun jiqi dui mohu liangci de yingyong [Generalized quantifier theory and its application to fuzzy quantifiers]. Dangdai Yuyanxue [Contemporary Linguistics], 1998, 2: 24-30.

http://www.ddyyx.com/ http://211.151.93.85/kns50/detail.aspx?filename=DDYX802.004&dbname=CJFD1998

Example of citations: http://philo.ruc.edu.cn/pol04/news/summary/zongshu/200408/1034_7.html

http://211.151.93.85/kns50/detail.aspx?filename=WJYY200101002&dbname=CJFD2001

18) Mohu yuyi de lishudu wenti [On the membership function of fuzzy meaning]. Yuyan Yanjiu [Linguistics Research], 1986 (1): 91-98.

19) Mohu ci suotan [Fuzzy words]. Liaoning Daxue Xuebao [Journal of Liaoning University], 1982 (1): 77-79.

Articles in conference proceedings

20) (Co-authored with Yongju RUE and Kyu SHIN) Request strategies in Korean. Proceedings of the 5th Biennial Korean Studies Association of Australasia Conference, 2007: 112-119.

http://espace.lis.curtin.edu.au/archive/00002319/

21) Duiwai Hanyu xuexi jinyici cidian de liju [Sample sentences in Chinese synonym dictionaries for foreign learners]. In Ting-Au CHENG, Luxing LI and Yongqiang CAI (Eds.) Duiwai Hanyu Xuexi Cidianxue Guoji Yantaohui Lunwenji (2) [The Proceedings of International Conference on Pedagogical Lexicography of CFL (2)], 2006: 298-307. [ISBN: 9797500459148]

http://www.paylessbookstore.com/book/book_detail_display.asp?intProdID=E7306528_6

Book Review:

Book review on Yip Po-Ching and Don Rimmington, Chinese: A Comprehensive Grammar. New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies. 2004, 6 (1): 230-234.

Teaching - Postgraduate

Supervising Masters/PhD projects on linguistics, Chinese languages studies and intercultural communication.

Grace welcomes applications from potential Masters and PhD students.

Publications

Books (Authored, Research)

  • Zhang, G, and Rue, Y. 2008. Request Strategies: A Comparative Study in Mandarin Chinese and Korean, First Edition. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins.

Refereed Articles (Scholarly Journals)

  • TANG, C, and Zhang, G. 2009. A contrastive study of compliment responses among Australian English and Mandarin Chinese speakers. Journal of Pragmatics 41: 325-345.
  • Zhang, G, and Sang, J. 2008. Communication across languages and cultures - A perspective of brand name translation from English to Chinese. Journal of Asia Pacific Communication 18(2): 226-247.
  • Ng, W, and Zhang, G. 2007. Learning written English: the perspective of Chinese ESL students. Foreign Language and Literature Studies. 24(4): 247-253.
  • Zhang, G, and Liu, C. 2006. Translation of Chinese sayings and relevance theory. Across Languages & Cultures 7(1): 50-75.
  • Zhang, G. 2005. Fuzziness and Relevance Theory. Foreign Language and Literature Studies 22(2): 73-84.
  • Zhang, G. 2004. Grice's Maxims and the Principle of Selectiveness: An Advertising Language Perspective. Fu Jen Studies Literature and Linguistics 38(1): 127-143.

Fully written papers (Refereed Conference proceedings)

  • Rue, Y, Zhang, G, and Shin, K. 2007. Request Strategies in Korean. 5th Annual KSAA Conference, 12/07/2007. Curtin University of Technology Perth, Western Australia: Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia.
  • Zhang, G. 2006. Sample sentences in Chinese synonym dictionaries for foreign learners. 2nd International Workshop on Pedagogical Lexicography of Chinese as Foreign Language, 01/07/2006. Beijing, China: Cina Social Sciences Press.