The Jac Mandarin Entering Tone

This dissertation is a diachronic and synchronic study of the entering characters of theJianghuai Mandarin, using linguistic and sociolinguistic research methods. The study is mainlybased on the data collected from the author's field investigation to the Jianghuai area of China,and it also draws upon previous research on this particular subject. This dissertation is divided intosix chapters. Chapter 3-5 is the main parts of the study.Chapter 1: Introduction. Firstly, this chapter begins with a brief introduction of the JianghuaiMandarin, the previous studies of the Jianghuai Mandarin, the purposes of this study and theresearch methodology. Then It discusses the boundary line between the northern part of theJianghuai Mandarin district and the Zhongyuan Mandarin, as well as the intersecting distributionof southern part of the Jianghuai Mandarin district with other Chinese dialects. After reviewingthe previous studies on the Jianghuai Mandarin and the entering characters of the JianghuaiMandarin in particular, this chapter also summarizes the findings of these studies as well as theirLimitations.Chapter 2: Characteristics of the Jianghuai Mandarin's phonology. It describes, compares theinidals and finals in various dialects of Jianghuai Mandarin. Based on the number of tones, theJianghuai Mandarin is divided into three types, namely, the 7-tone, the 6-tone and the 5-tone. The7-tone and 6-tone dialects are predigesting now. According to three aspects of tones, thecharacteristics of Jianghuai Mandarin is summarized in this chapter.Chapter 3: The tones of the entering characters in the Jianghuai Mandarin. It is an in-depthdescription of the tones of the entering characters in Jianghuai Mandarin which are divided intothree sub-dialects, Tairu, Hongchao and Huangxiao. In Tairu sub-dialect, the entering charactersare pronounced with two entering tones: Yinru and Yangru. The Yinru is stable and the Yangru ischanging to the Yinru. In the eastern part of Huangxiao sub-dialect, the entering tone is found tohave merged with Yangqu. In the western part of Huang Xiao area, the entering tone merges withYangping. The merge is attributed to the influence of the Southwest Mandarin. In Hongchaosub-dialect, the pitch of the entering tone varies between the northern and southern part of thisarea. The tone pitch is higher in the southern part than in the northern part.The study also findsthat the characters with an entering tone in the northern part of the Jianghuai Mandarin arechanging rapidly as the way that the tones of characters with ancient voiceless and sub-voicedinitials are the same with Yinping while the tones of characters with ancient voiced initials mergewith Yangping.Chapter 4: The finals of the entering characters in the Jianghuai Mandarin. It describes thefinals of the entering characters in the Jianghuai Mandarin as well as the changes of the finals. Based on the number of the final cluster, there are 6 types in the Tairu and the Hongchaosub-dialects. In terms of geographical distribution of the final cluster, the study finds that thewestern part is outnumbered the eastern part. The study also finds that the main vowels of enteringcharacters' finals change into the central vowel at last.the each merge of Xianshan She, ShenzhenShe, Dangjian She and Zenggeng She is clear. The finals of the entering characters in thesub-dialcects of Tairu and Hongchao correspond very well to the ancient final-groups, which isnot shared by the northern Wu dialects. The entering characters in the Huangxiao sub-dialect arepronounced in a long tone and without the ending [-(?)] as Xinan Mandarin. According to theentering characters, the dialects of eastern part of the Hongchao sub-dialcect, for example,Yangzhou, Yancheng and Huaiyin, are consanguineous with Tairu sub-dialect, the dialects ofwestern part and central part of the Hongchao sub-dialcect, for example, Nanjing and Hefei, areinfluenced more deeply by northern Mandarin than Tairu sub-dialect and eastern part of theHongchao sub-dialect.Chapter 5: The ending of the entering characters' finals in the Jianghuai Mandarin. Theentering finals end with [-(?)] in the Tairu and Hongchao sub-dialects, But they no longer endwith [-(?)] in the Huangxiao sub-dialect now, This Chapter discusses the several endings of theentering finals including [-(?)] in Qichun and Yingshan dialects, [-k] in Huaiyin dialect, [-l]in Tongcheng and Baoying dialects, the [-(?)] in the Hongchao and Tairu sub-dialects as well asthe [-(?)] in the Huangxiao sub-dialects. Among these endings, [-l][-(?)][-k][-(?)] are analyzeddeeply from the angle of formed reasons.Chapter 6: Conclusions. It expounds the relationship among the three sub-dialects of theJianghuai Mandarin, Tairu, Hongchao and Huangxiao. Author also shows the understandings ofthe three parts of Jianghuai Mandarin as well as differences in Jianghuai Mandarin and the Wudialect.