There was no linguistics in a modern sense in ancient China. Prior to the Qin Dynasty few papers and works had been contributed specially for language study. However, the remaining preQin records didn’t lack considerations and perceptions of language phenomena. These remaining linguistic ideas in special forms concern language acquisition, language use, language function, origin of language, semantic generation and exegesis, pragmatic principles, speech norm and whatever. A recognition and reexploration of this theoretical treasure house to interpret linguistic theories in it will embody our succession of traditional ideology and culture and our efforts for compensation for and reflection on modern linguistic theory.

linguistic theory of Pre-Qin Dynasty; Chinese linguistics; language use; language function