A Study Of Phonology In Taiyuan Basin Dialect

Taiyuan basin lies in the middle of Shanxi province, including 13 counties, belong to Jin group(晋方言). Taiyuan basin Dialect is surrounded by Mandarin and inside it, has many important characters which are different from Mandarin. This paper discussed the synchronic and evolution of Taiyuan basin dialect basing on the date investigated by the author and of related publications with the methods of comparison, historic layers analyses and structure analyses. It covers four chapters.Chapter one is the general introduction of Taiyuan basin, such as its geography, history, population and so on. Then a brief description of Taiyuan basin, the definition of what is called Taiyuan basin dialect in this paper, and a review of previous research on this topic is presented. In the end of this chapter, the meaning of the research, purpose, materials and study methods are given.Chapter two is study on initials. This chapter mainly discusses the pronunciation forms and evolution of the stops and affricates, ZhiZhuangZhang-zu(知庄章组),Yi-mu and Ying-mu(疑母和影母)in Taiyuan basin dialect.The former worthies considered that voiced stops and affricates of Ping-sheng(平声) pronounced as unaspirated surd, and Ze-sheng pronounced as aspirated surd. We examines the pronunciation types and planes of stops and affricates of MC voiced initials in Taiyuan basin dialect. It concludes that unaspirated stops and affricates of MC voiced initials are the pronunciation plane of the Tang-Wudai(唐五代), regardless of level and oblique tones, while the unaspiration of these sounds is the inherent plane of the Taiyuan basin dialect. Reflected inside the Taiyuan basin section, the pronunciation of the core areas differs from the marginal areas. The dialect of Taiyuan basin is influenced by aspirated stops and affricates with oblique tone of MC voiced initials of Fen-he dialect on the one hand, the unaspirated stops and affricates with level and oblique tones of MC voiced initials of Taiyuan basin dialects exert effect on the Northern and Western dialect sections on the other hand. ZhiZhuangZhang(知庄章组)are now pronounced as [ts] group or [ts] group in Taiyuan basin dialect. Generally, ZhiZhuangZhang-zu(知庄章组) are now pronounced as [ts] group and conflation with Jing-zu(精组)in Taiyuan type, and Zhi-er(知二)is different from Zhi-san(知三) in Pingyao type. We believe that the difference between Zhi-er(知二)and Zhi-san(知三)may represent early phonetic level. ZhiZhuang-zu’s(知庄组)conflation with Zhang-zu(章组)may represent lately phonetic level. The pronunciation types of Yi-mu(疑母)and Ying-mui(影母)are alike roughly in Taiyuan basin dialect. Ying-mu(影母)and He-kou-hu(合口呼)of Yi-mu(疑母)now pronounced as zero initial, and He-kou-hu(合口呼)of Ying-mu[影母)has merged independently with He-kou-hu(合口呼) of Yi-mu(疑母). This conflation may represent lately phonetic level.Chapter three talks about the pronunciation forms and evolution of finals such as Guo-she(果摄),Jia-kai-er(假开二)and Jia-kai-san(假开三),Zhi-she(止摄),DangJiang-she(宕江摄),ShenZhenZengGengTong-she(深臻曾梗通摄)in Taiyuan basin dialect. On the synchronic dimension, the pronunciation of Guo group(果摄) in Taiyuan basin dialect can be grouped into three parts. The first part [i] is the key vowel.The second part [a] is the key vowel.The third part [o] is the key vowel. From the diachronic perspective, the pronunciation differences in Guo group(果摄) actually represent the hiatorical layers in the development of the Chinese phonetics, some in mediaeval times period, some before it, some after it. Kai-kou-h1(开口呼)and Er-deng(二等) of Jia-she(假摄)are now pronounced as low vowel as Kai-kou-hui(开口呼)and San-deng(三等)of Jia-she(假摄).This Bai-du(白读) may represent before phonetic level of Song-dai period[宋代).From Tang-Wudai period to now, He-kou-hui(合口呼)and San-deng(三等)of Zhi-she(止摄)are rhyme with some Kai-kou-hu(开口呼)and San-deng(三等)of Zhi-she(止摄). Nasal endings of DangJiang-she(宕江摄)are dropped, and its Wen-dui文读)level conflated with XianShan-she(咸山摄),on the other hand, its Bai-du(白读)level conflated with GuoJia-she(果假摄).Shen-she(深摄),Zhen-she(臻摄),Zeng-she(曾摄),Geng-she(梗摄)ind Tong-she(通摄)have conflated into one group of finals, and its nasal endings are dropped.Chapter four is the discussion of tones with emphasis on the pronunciation forms and evolution of Ping-shengi[平声)and Shang-sheng(上声).The situation of departure and conflationof Ping-sheng(平声)and Shang-sheng(上声)includes three types.