On the nature of morphological alternations in Archaic Chinese and their relevance to morphosyntax

Abstract While sound glosses from the Six Dynasties and early Tang provide direct evidence for morphological alternations in Archaic Chinese, studies on syntax of this language generally disregard these data. This neglect is due part to perceived unreliability glosses. In paper, I first argue that arguments against their reliability do not stand scrutiny, they are a simple philological curiosity, but have potential enrich Chinese syntax, plead more collaboration between syntacticians historical phonologists.