本文主要是探討漢語短語及詞彙層次的輕聲現象。關於短語性的輕聲，鄭良偉先生(1989)是從句法的觀點來分析，本文則採用韻律体系理論來探討。我們提議了一組焦點詞語的原則及幾個相關的制約。此外，我們從蕭宇超先生(1991 & 1994)的韻板計數理論來觀察輕聲的節奏問題，因而修訂了虛詞音板指派及音板連接方向的原則，也建議了一條抵輔音板加入的規則。 　　關於詞彙性的輕聲，我們採用McCarthy及Prince(1986)的構詞規型理論及Kiparsky(1973 & 1982)，Mohanan(1982 & 1986)的字構音韻學理論來探討此一現象。我們建議了詞彙性的輕聲基本上運作於楊抑格音步，然而抵輔調卻運作於抑楊格音步。觀察了相關的音韻及構詞規則，我們也發現到文獻上輕聲的語料可由層級的觀念來分析。 / This thesis deals with neutral tone sandhi in Mandarin Chinese at the phrasal and lexical levels. Previous research of the phrasal neutral tone, e.g., R. Cheng (1989), has focused only at the syntactic level. In this research, we employ prosodic theories (Selkirk (1984 & 1986), Nespor and Vogel (1986), etc.) to condition phrasal neutral tone sandhi, and propose a set of focal phrasing principles and a couple of relevant constraints. In addition, we discuss the rhythm of neutral tone under the framework of the beat-counting theory (Hsiao, 1991 & 1994) to see in what ways the theory has to be modified. We propose a pair of revised principles of functor beat assignment and directional beat adjunction, along with a backup rule of the default beat addition. 　　As to neutral tone at the lexical level, we incorporate morphological template theory (McCarthy and Prince (1986)), and lexical phonology theory (Kiparsky (1973 & 1982), Mohanan (1982 & 1986), etc.). We propose that lexical neutral tone target a trochaic foot template, while a default tone target an iambic foot template. Observing the relevant phonological and morphological rules, we find that the neutral-toned data in the literature can be somehow generalized by way of level ordering.

This thesis was designed as a self study unit for middle school aged students with special needs. The unit is broken in to sub-units that specifically cater to each number base. Also included in this plan is a brief history of counting and practical uses for the mathematics of different number bases. This has been designed to be a "fun" unit to study after taking S.O.L. tests or other state standard testing. Included in each unit are worksheets for assessment of understanding.