A Comparison Study Of Xiang Dialect Phonology

Xiang Dialect is one of the most ten popular Chinese dialects. Comparative study of phonology of this dialec t is of great theoretical significance and academic value. Based on the historical literature and modern phonetic material about Xiang dialect collected, this thesis studies Xiang dialect's phonology characteristics by way of textual research and historical comparison. From a phonological view, it also studies some laws and characteristics of Xiang Dialect's phonology shown in its developing and changing process in sense of common linguistics and social linguistics.The thesis is composed of 5 parts:Part I is an introduction mainly about present and history of Xiang Dialect and the general conditions and meaning of study about this dialect. Derivations of language materials and research way of this thesis are also introduced in this part.Part II includes the 1st and 2nd chapter of this thesis. This part studies consonant characteristics of Xiang Dialect and their development. Chapter 1, The Sound & Development of Middle Ancient Zhi-Zhang-Zhuang Group Consonants in Xiang Dialect, classifies lingua-dental phonetics of Middle Ancient in modern Xiang Dialect, and analyzes connections between different pronunciations and their changing mode. Chapter 2, The Sound & Development of Middle Ancient Voiced Consonants in Xiang Dialect, classifies into 10 types all pronunciations of voiced consonants in modern Xiang Dialect. Taking area division and historical changing into account, Chapter 2 also studies how full voiced consonants become unvoiced in Xiang Dialect.Part III is the 3rd Chapter. It's about the four Calling syllable types, division characteristics and special origins. This part lays emphasis on the Far Ancient origin, Middle Ancient development and present performance of sound [-r-] in Xiang Dialect.Part IV goes from the 4^th to the 11^th chapter of the thesis studying characteristics and development of vowels in Xiang Dialect. The main phonetic evolvements are: the lost of sound [-r-] in some areas caused higher tongue-position of main vowels of Xian-Shan Sound Group (S.G) , Xie S.G...