Geographical Linguistic Studies Of Mengzhou Dialects

Based on the data investigated mostly by the author, this dissertation studies Mengzhou dialects by using multi-theory that includes geographical linguistic, lexical diffusion and historical comparison, etc.Chapter one aims to give a brief introduction about Mengzhou, Mengzhou dialects and relevant studies on it. The reasons, purposes, data, and methods of this study are also given here.The main purposed are 1.to classify dialects of Mengzhou from the geographical angle; 2.to analyze the evolution process of Mengzhou dialects geographically; 3.to explore the process and mechanism of language change by explaining the geographical distribution and evolution of Mengzhou dialects according to both linguistic and non-linguistic factors.Chapter two introduces the phonological system of Mengzhou dialects, and also summarizes the phonological features of Mengzhou dialects, which lays the foundation for later studies.Chapter three discusses two phonological issues, "jiantuan" and "Z-suffixation", and also studies the different reasons that make the distribution of these two features.Chapter four mainly deals with the vocabulary comparison in Mengzhou dialects.Chapter five argues that, firstly, Mengzhou dialects can be divided into three parts according to the differences in phonology and vocabulary; secondly, Yellow rive and the divisiory of districts in Tang dynasty played important roles in the evolution and division of Mengzhou dialects.