「關中」一語見於《史記》卷七《項羽本紀》，《集解》引徐廣說明它的範圍是： 「東函谷，南武關，西散關，北蕭關。」（中華書局標點本冊一頁315。）即今日陝西 大部及甘肅、寧夏、河南與陝西接壤的部分地區。本計劃的「關中方言」根據一般的 地理概念，適當考慮方言特點與分區。研究對象包括今陝西境內屬於中原官話關中片、 秦隴片的方言。這是學術界比較一致的看法。

1933年，中央研究院歷史語言研究所白滌洲先生調查了關中42縣50個方言點的語音 系統，後來由喻世長先生整理出版了《關中方音調查報告》（北京：中國科學院，1954年， 以下簡稱《報告》），《報告》系統的描寫了關中方言的語音狀況，對一些音韻特點及其演變、 地理分布作了簡略的討論。這是早期官話方言研究重要的著作，但由於條件所限，當年白滌洲 先生調查關中方言時，有些縣沒有調查縣城方言，包括渭南等十二個。也遺漏張安等九個縣。

其次，《報告》還有如下缺點：（1）《報告》沒有將聲調和聲母、韻母配合起來， 這一點羅常培先生在《報告》的序中已指出。（2）《報告》只反映了400多個單字音（缺聲調）， 而且大都是文讀音。（3）《報告》沒有連讀變調。（4）《報告》完全沒有詞匯、語法的調查 內容。所以對關中方言的研究仍有很大的發展空間。

另一方面，這部著作仍是觀察關中方言七十五年來的演變提供了絕佳的參照系， 在語音方面，如中古知莊章組聲母的演變及其與精組字的關係，導致今天聲母的顎化或者 是韻母及介音一系列變化，有的跟隨普通話，有的與普通話背道而馳，成為關中方言一個 顯著的特色。計劃以該《報告》為基礎，調查當代關中方言的概況，並就其中聲母與介音 問題深入研究，計劃內容大要如下：
(1) 調整方言點，去其重複，補其缺漏，注重代表性，將調查點定為47個。
(2) 調查內容將單字音增至2,000餘個，並注重文白異讀及連讀變調。
(3) 新加詞匯、語法項目，詞匯約1,500個，語法例句100個，並以表格方式排列，方便對照。
(4) 著重調查內容的系統性、共時性，並對有關材料作動態性的跟蹤調查， 通過與白滌洲先生著作的歷時比較，以及各方言點之間的共時比較， 深入研究關中方言聲母與介音的演變及二者競爭的結果。 計劃完成後，有《當代關中方言聲母、介音的演變研究》、《關中方言字音對照集》、 《關中方言詞匯、語法對照集》三部著作。

Over 100 Chinese dictionaries for transmitted texts and excavated texts were published in the last few decades. Although these dictionaries, mostly synchronic, often contain the same words or words of similar meanings, they differ from one another in their nature and methodology. A prominent problem concerning them is that none of the individual dictionaries is able to boast a full collection of all the representative usages of a particular word. This has led us to wonder whether the dictionaries as we have today do not have any room for improvement.

To compile a synchronic dictionary, one needs to have a good understanding of the complete lexical landscape of the particular period concerned. A study on both the transmitted texts and excavated texts become indispensable in obtaining such an understanding. We have taken advantage of modern technology to establish a database of the entire body of ancient Chinese texts in order to conduct meta-analyses. This up-to-date method for compiling a dictionary of ancient Chinese plays an essential part in the study of the ancient Chinese lexicography.

For the above-mentioned reasons, we began a project titled “An Integrated Study of the Pre-Han and Han Lexicon: The Establishment of a Multi-Purpose Online Dictionary of Ancient Chinese Texts先秦兩漢詞彙綜合研究──古代漢語多功能網絡辭典之構建” in 2005. This project was subsequently recommended as a Pilot Project for a period of 12 months and funded by the RGC. Since its inception in January 2007, the project has made use of the CHANT Database and designed a program system, namely ‘Automatic Compiling Program System for Retrieval Database for Ancient Chinese Disyllable and Polysyllable Words’ (RDDPW), to build up a complete pre-Han and Han glossary. With RDDPW, different kinds of glossaries are being compiled. A glossary of vocabularies found in pre-Han and Han ancient Chinese excavated texts begins to take shape. The study on pre-Han and Han ancient Chinese transmitted text lexicons has also been commenced and is progressing as planned. Part of the research results has been incorporated into an online lexicon database. Furthermore, a dictionary of the glosses found in Gao You’s commentaries on three Chinese texts is under preparation. The first of its own kind, this dictionary is scheduled to meet the public in 2009.

After the completion of the preliminary research task, we believe that it is the right time to propose an extension for this pilot project. The second phase of this research project aims at extending the research scope to cover all the pre-Han and Han transmitted texts. Our team will make full use of RDDPW to cull words from all texts and compile a series of pre-Han and Han glossaries, which will then be used to study the usage of particular words and their evolution. Research results will be, as usual, made available to the public. With the online lexicon database, scholars all around the world can conduct word search with any particular historical period, region/state, author, medium, genre, etc.

The aim of this research is to investigate the “Eileen Chang phenomenon” (Zhang Ailing xianxiang 張愛玲現象) in Hong Kong, through the study of the adaptations and reception of her works. Eileen Chang (1920-1995) is one of the most important writers in modern Chinese literature. Her works, enjoying both literary acclaim and wide popularity, have been adapted into various media forms, including films, TV series, broadcasting series, drama and dance theatre. This “Eileen Chang phenomenon” is a topic worthy of detailed investigation. Key issues addressed in the project include: 1. how are Chang and her works received in Hong Kong, 2. why and how are her works adapted by Hong Kong directors, 3. how are the adaptations of her works and life received in Hong Kong, 4. how is the reception of Chang in Hong Kong differ from that in the mainland and Taiwan, and 5. what light do the above findings shed on the cultural characteristics of Hong Kong.

The project is divided into two parts: 1. Documentation of research materials. An archive will be built on the reviews and adaptations of Chang’s works. Interviews will be conducted with Chang’s reviewers and adaptors to provide a comprehensive understanding of the “Chang phenomenon.” 2. Textual analysis and theoretical reflection. Texts composing the “Chang phenomenon” will be examined in detail. The project will rethink the inter-textual perspective by revisiting the notion of the author. By comparing the historical Chang and the received Chang, the project will present Chang as an individual trapped between modernity and tradition, while her reviewers and adaptors prefer to read her as a symbol of metropolitan modernity.

The outcome of the project includes: 1. academic papers to be published in refereed journals, 2. interviews with Chang’s adaptors and reviewers to be published in literary journals, and 3. an online database with search function. The project is academically significant not only to the study of modern Chinese literature, but also to enhancing the importance of Hong Kong in the study of Chang and in the field of literary studies. It will also provide valuable reference sources for research and education. As present research on the reception of Chang mainly focuses on that of the mainland and Taiwan, this project on Chang’s reception in Hong Kong will make pioneering research of its kind.

古知莊章精組聲母在現代漢語方言中語音形式歧異，分合類型複雜， 歷史層次豐富，向來為漢語方言學者所矚目。其今讀類型及其所反映的歷史層次 不但是漢語方言分區的重要標準，也是考察各大方言歷史演變和相互間歷史關係 的重要視角。此前有關研究多限於單點或某一區域，尚無貫通南北古今的考察； 在諸如知章組讀如端組是存古形式還是晚近演變等問題上，學界也有不同看法。 本計劃擬就四組聲母在現代漢語方言中的今讀類型、歷史層次作一全面深入的研究， 以期在解決上述問題的同時，也有助於深化對漢語方言學、漢語語音史中相關問題的認識。

The pronunciations of words belonging to the 知, 莊, 章, 精 series in the Middle Chinese initial system differ greatly among modern dialects. The complexity in coalescences and divisions of these four series as well as their diverse origins and developments have long attracted the attention of scholars in both dialectology and historical phonology. Questions such as whether the merger of the 知，莊 series with the 端 series reflects the retention of an ancient feature or a phonological evolution in recent times still remains controversial. Indeed, the modern pronunciations and the historical development of these initial-series serve as important criteria not only for classification of Chinese dialects, but also for a critical examination of the historical development of and relationship across dialects. As previous studies are constrained by surveys of either a single location or a small region, a comprehensive investigation across China is crucial for any further research in this regard. This research project proposes a thorough study of the four series of initial consonants by (1) examining their diverse patterns of realization in modern dialects and (2) analyzing the diachronic layers that such patterns reveal. The study will also deepen our understanding of other related issues in Chinese dialectology and historical phonology.