I-IV -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- Tables and maps -- Key to symbols -- Introduction -- Chapter 1. The spoken language of the Xiang dialects -- Chapter 2. Written language of the Xiang dialects -- Chapter 3. Morphology and its evolution in the Xiang dialects -- Chapter 4. Pronouns and their evolution in the Xiang dialects -- Chapter 5. Adverbs and their evolution in the Xiang dialects -- Chapter 6. The evolution of passive and disposal constructions in the Xiang Dialects -- Chapter 7. Aspectual markers and their evolution in the Xiang dialects -- Chapter 8. The evolution of structural particles in the Xiang dialects -- Chapter 9. The modal particles in the Xiang dialects and their evolution -- Chapter 10. The evolution of double-object and 催 de constructions in the Xiang dialects -- Final remarks -- Appendix -- Notes -- References -- Index