Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of the research topic, focusing on the grammaticalization of coordinating conjunctions, introducing the significance of this research, and its relevance in the field of language evolution and change. This chapter delves into the research background and presents a comprehensive literature review on the grammaticalization process of coordinating conjunctions. It highlights the gaps and limitations in the existing research. Furthermore, this chapter justifies the need to contribute data from the Chinese language to the existing body of knowledge. Chinese, being a rich and complex language, offers unique insights into the grammaticalization process of coordinating conjunctions. By incorporating Chinese data, this research aims to broaden the scope of understanding and provide a more comprehensive analysis. To ensure a systematic approach, this chapter lists out all the important parameters that will be considered throughout the research, such as word-order, prosodic patterns, and the nature of coordinands of coordinating conjunctions. Lastly, this chapter outlines the research questions that will guide the subsequent chapters. These research questions aim to investigate the specific aspects of grammaticalization in Chinese coordinating conjunctions, such as the factors influencing the process, the stages of development, and the impact of language contact.