Algae Min Yao Language Voice

The Zaomin Yao is not only the smallest dialect but also the most incomprehensive studied in Yao. This study is a comprehensive study on the sound system of Zaomin Yao including the synchronic description of the phonological system and the diachronic analysis of sound developments. As for the synchronic description, new fieldwork technological methods, and some methods of experimental phonetics have been employed in this research. As for the diachronic analysis, I analysis the sound strata of the Chinese loanwords in Zaomin Yao through the analytical methodology of historical strata, and discuss sound changes of Zaomin Yao using the Comparative Methods and the Methods of Internal Reconstruction.There are four chapters in this study. Chapter one is the general introduction, Chapter two and Chapter three the synchronic analysis, and Chapter three the diachronic discussion.Chapter One presents the general information about the location, population, history, culture, biological nature of the Zaomin Yao, the classification and subgrouping of the language, the characteristics of the language, an overview of previous studies, and a brief discussion of the research methods, and databases employed in the study. Chapter Two and Chapter three are the synchronic analysis of Zaomin Yao, which addresses sound systems of various sub-dialects of Zaomin Yao and the characteristics of the sound system in Zaomin Yao. Chapter Two is the description of the phonological systems of the six sub-dialects (Youling, Daping, Panshi, Junliao, Nangang and Mangshan) of Zaomin Yao. Chapter three is the phonetic analysis on Zaomin Yao, including:3.1 an acoustic formant chart for vowels,3.2 the chart for tonal contour, using acoustic information,3.3 aerodynamic investigation, and EGG analysis to verifying the existing voiceless nasals in Zaomin Yao,3.4 using acoustic analysis, and aerodynamic investigation to verifying the existing implosives in Zaomin Yao,3.5 an analysis of four phonetic variability (approximant, fricative, flap and implosive) of j-initial through acoustic and static palatographical analysis,3.6 various tone sandhi rules in Zaomin Yao.Chapter Four is the diachronic discussion of sound changes and the classification of the Chinese loanwords in Zaomin Yao based on the Youling Yao, and addresses four rules of sound changes in Zaomin Yao. In the introduction of this chapter some important issues in the analytical methodology of historical strata are discussed, such as the definition of the sound strata, the way to differentiate sound strata, the way to differentiate the main stratum from the minor strata, and the identification of the chronological stages of various sound strata and determine the source. There are four sections in this Chapter. 4.1 present a discussion of the initial strata including the main stratum and the other strata, 4.2 discusses the main stratum and some minor strata of the finals. 4.3 discusses the tonal strata, 4.4 is a summary of the sound changes in Zaomin Yao including general method of identifying the most possible one from the shift chains acquired from comparative studies, on the devioicing of obstruents in Old Yao, discussion on the sound change arj> (?)(?),on the sound change of i:(?)>ia(?), evidence of internal reconstruction and historical comparison proves that the implosives in Yao come from the prenaslized stop intitials of Old Miao-Yao.