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Tsing Hua Journal of Chinese Studies
ISSN 0577-9170; DOI 10.6503/THJCS

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A Typological Study on the Palatalization of the middle Chinese 2nd Division Velar Initials among Chinese Dialects

Vol. 22 No. 4   12/1992

Title

A Typological Study on the Palatalization of the middle Chinese 2nd Division Velar Initials among Chinese Dialects

Author

Chang Kuang-yu

Genre

Article  

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Abstract

    The colloquial/literary distinction in the velar initials of the Middle Chinese 2nd division rhyme categories is one of the most widespread phenomena in Chinese dialects. This phenomenon can be divided into the following six types: (1) Yangtze River type: C.k- and L.t. this kind of distinction is found in large cities along the River such as Suzhou. Yangzhou, Wuhan and Changsha. (2) Liuyang in Hunan province: C.k- and L.ki- (3) Wanrong in Shanxi province: C. ts- and Lt. (4) Fenxin in Shanxi province; C. t-and L.t (5) Wenrong in Shandong province; C. ts- and L.ki- (6) Xiamen in Fujian province: both colloquial and literary k-. these six types reflect the discrepant developments between the northern and southern Chinese dialects in miniature; the southern Chinese dialects are more conservative than the northern Chinese dialects. In the north, there seems to be a distinction between the core of the central plain and its periphery. In the south, there seems to be a distinction between those which are near the Yangtze River and those which are far from the River. The core of the central plain serves as the epicenter of the palatalization in question, while the wave-like spread has reached most Chinese dialects and indeed replaced their old readings in large scale, the southern Chinese remain resistant to such change – Min, Hakka, Yue and southern Wu dialects have not been affected by such northern intrusions. Palatalization is an incessant process throughout Chinese history, and it is not easy to date this phonetic event.

 

 

Author: Chang Kuang-yu
Genre: Article
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