Fujian Yongan Local Mandarin Synchronic Variation Studies

Local Mandarin, an existing form of Mandarin, is a kind of Mandarin variety formed during the contacts between dialect and Mandarin. In Yong’an city of Fujian province, Mandarin is well popularized and frequently used. Under the guidance of sociolinguistics theory, the present study investigates the synchronic variations of common content words, modal particles, and especial sentence patterns of Yong’an local Mandarin by making use of questionnaire surveys and participatory observations.The statistical analysis reveals a high awareness of Yong’an Mandarin variables. However, the usage rate of the variables presents a large differences corresponding to the effects of some impact factors. First of all, the important social factors, which affect the usage rate of the variables, include education, occupation, Yong’an dialect acquisition, and birthplace. Generally, those who tend to use Yong’an local Mandarin variables possess the following features, such like local born, native speaker, lower education level, and occupations with lower requirement on their Mandarin. Secondly, the usage of variables presents certain gender difference. In the youth and olds, female is more tending to use variables comparing with male. However, the contrary results are got in the middle ages. Finally, the study reveals that language attitude is the psychological factor affecting the usage and spread of the variables. On one hand, regional identity is the social force promoting the usage and spread of variables. On the other hand, Yong’an citizens’ self-acceptance to their Mandarin level prevents the gradually advance from Yong’an local Mandarin to standard Mandarin.The usage rate of the variables exhibits higher level in the youth and olds, whereas lower level in the Middle Ages. The olds are the introducer of the variables and the youth are the current user and transmitter. Moreover, the study reveals that it is difficult to sort a usage rule of variables from the high school students because they immerse in both Yong’an local Mandarin environment at home and standard Mandarin environment in schools.In competition with Yong’an dialect, Yong’an local Mandarin fulfils more functions. It not only becomes the main communication tools for most of the Yong’an citizens replacing the Yong’an dialect, but also turns into the mother tone of some people. In competition with standard Mandarin, some features of Yong’an local Mandarin are on the decline and may be replaced by standard Mandarin in the near future. Meanwhile, the distinctive and expressive features of Yong’an local Mandarin will be kept for long forming prestige in certain people and even becoming new local language symbols. Some individual features with wide range commonality and tenacious vitality will continue spread and may become a part of standard Mandarins.Due to the various competitions, the features of Yong’an local Mandarin are in the trends of decline. Only a few features can become stable local symbols after competition and selection. However, most of features will exist in Yong’an spoken language for a long time and play their unique roles.