Subei Dialect Phonetic Research

The dialect of Northern Jiangsu belongs to a part of Mandarin dialect. Previous studies mostly focused on single-point dialect, paying less attention to dialectal overall appearance of regional range. Northern Jiangsu occupies half area of Jiangsu province. There are a lot of phonological differences among dialect points from east to west and from south to north in Northern Jiangsu. This paper researches phonological differences among dialect points of Northern Jiangsu, examining phonological materials of forty-six dialect points; based on field investigation, it uses descriptive method and historical comparative method and dialect geography method to deeply and regionally research phonological system of the dialect of Northern Jiangsu. The main contents are pronunciation types and evolutional processes about initials, finals and tones. Dialectal maps are used to display geographical distribution of pronunciation types; evolutional reasons are also analyzed. The research has some significance to realizing phonological appearance of the dialect of Northern Jiangsu, raveling geographical distribution of dialectal features and discussing evolutional process of dialectal pronunciation.The paper is divided into five chapters. The second chapter, third chapter and fourth chapter are main body. The main contents of every chapter are as follows.First chapter:Introduction. This chapter first introduces general situations about Northern Jiangsu region and dialect, including geography, administrative division, build purchase evolution and dialectal attribution about Northern Jiangsu; then examines phonological studies of the dialect of Northern Jiangsu from20th century, dividing into initiative period, general investigative period and prosperous period; explains research significance, research methods, research scope and source of materials about this paper at last.Second chapter:Initials. Initials’pronunciation types and evolutions about dialect of Northern Jiangsu are mainly discussed in this chapter. General situations about initials, including amounts of initials, similarities and differences are first introduced in this chapter, and then focuses on initials of Fei(非)group, Ni(泥)and Lai (来),Zhi(知)Zhuang(庄)Zhang(章) groups and Ri(日),Ying(影)and Yi(疑),and so on. The main conclusions of this chapter are as follows. Fei(非)Fu(敷)Feng(奉) initials have three pronunciation types, which are initial f type, initial x type and initials both f and x type; Wei(微)initial has three pronunciation types, which are initial (?) type, initial v type and initials both0and v type. The pronunciations of Fei(非)Fu(敷)Feng(奉)initials produce "f>x" evolution in some dialect points, and the pronunciation of Wei(微)initial produces "(?)>v" evolution. The evolutional reason of Fei(非)Fu(敷)Feng(奉)initials is that rounded tint of closed element is highlighted; The evolutional reason of Wei(微) initial is that touch-lips’motion is strengthened. The pronunciations of Ni(泥) and Lai(来)initials are mixed in some dialect points, and unmixed in other dialect points. Ni(泥)and Lai(来)initials are pronounced with1in mixed dialect points; Ni(泥)initial is pronounced with n and Lai(来)initial is mostly1in unmixed dialect points. Lai(来)initial is pronounced with (?), in single dialect point. Ni(泥)initial produces labialized evolution in several dialect points, pronouncing with m. The pronunciations of Zhi(知)Zhuang (庄)Zhang(章)groups initials can be divided into two types, unitary type and dichotomic type. Unitary type can be divided into initials ts groups type and initials ts groups type. Dichotomic type can be divided into initials ts/tf groups type, initials ts/ts groups type, initials ts/t(?) groups type and initials ts/t(?) groups type. The evolutional processes of Zhi(知)Zhuang(庄)Zhang(章)groups initials are complicated. Under the premise of Zhi(知)second grade Zhuang(庄)groups and Zhi(知)third grade Zhang(章)groups separating, open and closed conditions experiencing different evolutional processes. pronunciation pattern with two classes and six subclasses is formed at last. Initial f of Pizhou (Daiwei) dialect partly comes from Zhuang(庄) Zhang(章) groups initials, which is evolutional result in the closed condition. The pronunciation of Ri(日)initial can be divided into Zhi(止)rhyme group open and others. The former has three pronunciation types, which are initial ι type, initial [type and initial (?) type; the latter has five pronunciation types, which are initial (?) type, initial z type, initial1type, initial (?) type and initial0type. The evolutional process of the former is [*(?)]�'[*(?)]�'[*ji]�'[*3i]�'[z(?)]�'[(?))�'[(?)]�'[(?)]�'([(?)�'((?)�'[(?)r]; the evolutional process of the latter is [*(?)-]�'[*(?)i-]�'[*j]�'([*(?)])�'[z]/[((?))�'1/(?)]. Their evolutional processes are different; but they have close relationship with i in finals. Ying(影)and Yi(疑)initials have four pronunciation types, which are initial (?) type, initials both (?) and v type, initials both (?) and (?) type, initials0, η and v type. The open Ying(影)and Yi(疑)initials evolve into initial (?) at last; the closed first interflow into initial (?), and then produce initial v.Third chapter:Finals. Finals’pronunciation types and evolutions about dialect of Northern Jiangsu are mainly discussed in this chapter. General situations about finals, including amounts of finals, similarities and differences are first introduced in this chapter, and then focuses on Guo(果)rhyme group, Jia(假)rhyme group open third grade, Xie(蟹)Zhi(止)rhyme groups, Xian(�'�)Shan (山)rhyme groups, Dang(宕)Jiang(江)rhyme groups, Shen(深)Zhen(臻)Zeng(曾) Geng (梗) rhyme groups, and lateral ending. The main conclusions of this chapter are as follows. Guo(果)rhyme group first grade has two pronunciation types, which are completely interfluent type and partly interfluent type. The total evolutional tendency is interfluent, and then main vowels’raising. Guo(果)rhyme group third grade have two pronunciation types, which are identical type and disparate type. The total evolutional tendency is main vowels’raising. The pronunciations of Jia (假)rhyme group open third grade between Jing(精)Ying(影)groups and Zhang(章)Ri(日)groups are different. Among the pronunciations of the former has a relationship of main vowels’raising, and then apicalization; the latter has a relationship of main vowels’raising or finals’fission. The vowels are raised of Xie(蟹)rhyme group open third and fourth grades and Zhi(止) rhyme group open third grade in some dialect points, which is a push-chain process. The closed medial disappears of Xie(蟹)rhyme group closed first and third grades and Zhi (止)rhyme group closed third grades Duan(端)groups in most dialect points. Xian(�'�)Shan (山) rhyme groups yangsheng(阳声)rhymes have five pronunciation types from the ending, which are nasal ending type, part nasalized type, nasalized type, part open ending type and open ending type; there are four pronunciation types from the main vowel, which are unitary type, dichotomic type, tripartite type and quadripartite type. The evolutional processes under different ancient phonetic conditions have difference, but they all experience processes of main vowels’ raising, and nasal elements’weakening and losing. Dang(宕)Jiang(江)rhyme groups yangsheng(阳声)rhymes have less differences in medials and main vowels, and main differences exist in endings. They have four pronunciation types from the ending, which are nasal ending type, part nasalized type, nasalized type and open ending type. Their evolutional processes are mainly nasal ending’s weakening, main vowels’nasalization and raising, and then thoroughly lose nasal elements in Qichihu(齐齿呼)finals. The pronunciations of Dang(宕)Jiang(江)rhyme groups yangsheng (阳声)rhymes are interfluent with the pronunciations of Xian(�'�)Shan(山)rhyme groups yangsheng(阳声)rhymes in single dialect point. The pronunciations of Shen(深)Zhen (臻)Zeng(曾)Geng(梗)rhyme groups yangsheng (阳声)rhymes are mostly interfluent, only in a few dialect points opposites existing. Rusheng (入声)rhymes are reserved in some dialect points, disappearing in others. The main vowels of Xian(�'�)Shan (山)rhyme groups rusheng(入声)rhymes have four sorts in dialect points of rusheng(入声)rhymes reserved type, which are unitary type, dichotomic type, tripartite type and quadripartite type; the main vowels have only two sorts in dialect points of rusheng(入声) rhymes disappeared type, which are dichotomic type and tripartite type. The pronunciations of Dang(宕)Jiang(江)rhyme groups rusheng (阳声)rhymes are same with Guo(果)rhyme group in dialect points of rusheng(入声)rhymes disappeared type. Rusheng(入声)rhymes have lateral ending in five dialect points, which are Guannan (Xin’an), Guannan (Changmao), Xiangshui (Nanhe), Binhai (Chentao) and Funing (Chenji). Lateral ending evolves from ending t, and it is influenced by glottal stop. They both evolve into ending (?) at last.Fourth chapter:Tones. Tones’ pronunciations about dialect of Northern Jiangsu are mainly discussed in this chapter. General situations about tones, including amounts of tones, tone patterns and tone pitches, similarities and differences are first introduced in this chapter; then pronunciations of Pingsheng(平声)Shangsheng(上声)and Qusheng(去声)；are introduced; pronunciations of Rusheng(入声)are mainly discussed at last. The main conclusions of this chapter are as follows. From the amounts of tones, there are four tones in some dialect points, five tones in some dialect points, six tones in single dialect point. From the tone patterns and tone pitches, consistency of tone patterns is relative high, and tone pitches have less differences in dialect points of four tones. Both tones patterns and tone pitches have big differences in dialect points of five tones. A few words of mediaeval voiced initials Shangsheng (上声)and voiced initials Qusheng(去声)pronounce into Yinping(阴平)tone in Yancheng (Yandu) dialect, which may be influenced by Tongtai dialect. The pronunciations of Rusheng (入声) tone have four types, which are Yanhuai type, Tuofeng type, Dingzui type and Xusu type. Dialect points of Yanhuai type, Tuofeng type and Dingzui type reserve Rusheng(入声)tone; Dialect points of Xusu type have no Rusheng(入声)tone. Both Tuofeng type and Dingzui type exist the1axalion of Rusheng(入声)tone. The process of laxation of Rusheng (入声) tone is progressive. There are two Rusheng(入声)tones in Sihong (Qingyang) dialect. Rusheng(入声)first tone may be differentiated from Rusheng (入声)tone because of influence of northern dialects, which is a kind of transitional tone category transforming into Yinping(阴平)tone.Fifth chapter:Interior Distribution of the Dialect of Northern Jiangsu. Interior distribution is mainly discussed in this chapter. General situation about distribution of the dialect of Northern Jiangsu is first introduced in this chapter; and then mainly discusses phonological features and interior differences of eastern district and western district; summarizes interior distribution of the dialect of northern Jiangsu at last. The main conclusions of this chapter are as follows. The dialect of Northern Jiangsu can be divided into eastern district and western district in general. Eastern district can be divided into Dongyan cluster and Donghuai cluster; western district can be divided into Xigan cluster and Xixu cluster. Eastern district dialects have Rusheng(入声) tone; western district dialects have no Rusheng(入声)tone. The pronunciations of Xian(�'�)Shan(山)rhyme groups yangsheng(阳声)rhymes are based on open ending rhymes in Dongyan cluster dialects, but based on nasalized rhymes in Donghuai cluster dialects. Xigan cluster dialects can distinguish sharp and round initials, but Xixu cluster dialects cannot.