A Phonological Study On The Historical Strata Of Laiyang Dialect

As one branch of Jiaoliao Mandarin,Laiyang Dialect has 22 initials,36 finals,4 tones and 363 basic syllables.We ourselves made an investigation and analysis of its phonological system,based on Laiyang's cultural,geographical environments,and the phonological systems of the dialects around,in order to find out the rules and strata of Laiyang Dialect's phonological changes,and reveal its features and significance in the history of Chinese dialects.Located in the transition area of ancient governmental districts,Laiyang has many typical features in its phonological structure.Covered and invaded by the common language and the"Army Dialect of Ming Dynasty"for long,Laiyang Dialect has not only the typical features of ancient mandrin,but also some bottom stratum features of its ancient native dialect.With its voiced initials devoiced,the even-tone initials became aspirated,and the obligue-tone initials unaspirated.The"Zhi,zhuang,Zhang initials"groups are now changed into two groups,which are in complementary distribution in spelling ,almost the same as Zhong Yuan Yin Yun.The"Jing initiaP'group's colloquials of the "Jian initial"group are on the verge of disappearing.The final system's open,close,pursed mouth and even teeth are stable and the stop ending of entering tone lost.The open,third level of "Guo,Jia SHE"still differs from the open,second level of "Xie SHE's" "Jian initial"group in finals.Also,the redistribution of its Yin Rhyme and Ru Rhyme is not the same as PuTongHua,which infers that Laiyang Dialect developed in its own way.There are 4 tones: upper even,lower even,rising and departing tone. "Clear entering tone into the rising tone"is one of the common rules of Laiyang Dialect and Zhong Yuan Yin Yun. The majority of the semi-muddy tone into the upper even tone"today shows us a more ancient stratum.