ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts covered in the preceding chapters of the book. The book examines an early phase of the enregisterment of CM and focuses on a few phonological and lexical features that distinguish CM from its conservative counterpart, Beijing-Mandarin-based PTH. Two sound features, namely, de-rhotacization and full tone, are particularly salient distinctive components. The book focuses on the future of CM and how does this new Mandarin style shape the future of Standard Mandarin in China? First, CM is likely to expand in terms of the number and types of linguistic forms. Second, the social domains of CM will grow as more and more Chinese speakers recognize and take up features associated with CM in their linguistic practices. The book also focuses on a style-based approach to sociolinguistic change, taking the emergence of CM as a case study, enables an integrated treatment of language and social-ideological change.
