A Comparative Study On The Phonology Of Yongzhou Tuhua

This thesis focuses on the phonological systems of 17 Tuhua selected from 9 counties in Yongzhou, Hunan. These Tuhua are Xiangnan Tuhua, which belong to the Bi-dialectal District pointed out by The Atlas of Chinese Language. These Tuhua are: Xintian southern countryside Tuhua, Xintian northern countryside Tuhua, Ningyuan Zhangjia Tuhua, Ningyuan Pinghua, Lanshan Shangdong Tuhua, Lanshang Taiping Tuhua, Daoxian Xianglinpu Tuhua, Daoxian Xiaojia Tuhua, Shuangpai Lijiaping Tuhua, Jianghua Baimangying Tuhua, Jiangyong Songbai Tuhua, Jiangyong Chengguan Tuhua, Jiangyong Taochuan Tuhua, Dong' an Gaofeng Tuhua, Dong' an Xuaqiao Tuhua, Lengshuitan Xiaojiangqiao Tuhua, Lengshuitan Lanjiaoshan Tuhua.Based on the phonological materials investigated from there directly,Comparison methods are mainly used in finding out the identities and differences of 17 Yuhua in consonants, vow,els and tones. These dialects are classified into several types and the belongings of each type are discussed in the thesis. It contains 6 chapters.The first chapter is about the distribution of Yongzhou Yuhua. The first part tells the history, geography, population and language (or dialects) in Yongzhou. The distributions of Yongzhou Tuhua are introduced in the second part.The second chapter is about the phonological systems of 17 Tuhua in consonants, vowels and tones.The third chapter is the comparison and analysis of the consonants. The pronunciations of the Tuhua consonants compared with the ancient Chinese consonants are introduced in the first part. The second part is about the comprehensive comparison of the consonants of Tuhua. Those that have special consonants areemphasized in comparison to tell different types of Yuhua.The fourth chapter is the comparison and analysis of the vowels of Tuhua. Different vowels among these Tuhuas are compared and analyzed in the first part. The second part is comprehensive comparison of the vowels of Tuhua. Those that special vowels are emphasized in comparison will tell different types of Tuhua.The fifth chapter is the comparison and analysis of tones and the combination of consonants with vowels in Tuhua. The tonal features of different types of Tuhua are introduced in the first part. The second part is about the comparison and analysis of the combination of consonants with vowels in Tuhua We can tell differences among Tuhua from the combination of consonants, with vowels and the confusion or difference of Siantuan(尖团).The sixth chapter is the types of Tuhua and belongs of them. The first part is about the types of Tuhua. Based on the analysis mentioned in those chapters above, two criteria can be used in grouping these Tuhua: Basic criterion and attached criterion. There are four types of Yongzhou Tuhua: Dong' an-Lengshuitan type (consonants-voiced type), Jiangyong-Daoxian type (consonants-voiceless I type), Xintian southern countryside type (consonants-voiceless II type) and Ningyuan Pinghua type (consonants-voiceless IIItype). The belongings of Yongzhou Tuhua are discussed in the second part. Compared with other dialects, Dong' an-Lengshuitan type can be grouped as Xiangyu (湘语) and the other types of Tuhua can be viewed as mixed dialects.