Xiuning (Xikou) Dialect Phonetic Research

Xikou town lies in Xiuning county , as a result , Xikou dialect belongs to Xiuyi area of Hui dialect. This paper describes the phonetic system of Xikou dialect in detail, and finds the corresponding rules of initial consonants, vowels and tones in the phonetic system between Xikou dialect and Qieyun. Basis on this, we specially discuss the retroflex suffixation and the phenomenon of the initials' palatalization of ancient jian in Xikou dialect.It consists of five chapters. The first chapter is an introduction to Xikou town, the origin, subject, objectives and materials of this research. Chapter II to chapter IV is the main part. Chapter II is about the phonetic system of Xikou dialect. It describes initial consonants, vowels and tones system in Xikou dialect in detail. Chapter III deals with the phonetic features in Xikou dialect. Through the comparison with the phonetic system of Qieyun, it sums up phonetic features and analyzes the phenomenon of literary/colloquial readings in Xikou dialect briefly. Chapter IV is a phonetic symposium. The first topic is about retroflex suffixation. On the basis of summing up the ways and functions of retroflex suffixation in Hui dialect, it specializes in the roles, features, development and functions of retroflex suffixation in Xikou dialect. The second topic is about the phenomenon of the initials' palatalization of ancient jian. Through the summarization and comparison of pronunciation in palatalized readings in 7 dialects (Jixi, Shexian, Tunxi, Qimen, Yixian, Xiuning, Wuyuan), it dwells on the phonological strata of palatalized readings in Huizhou. Then relating the palatalization phenomenon with the dialects nearby (mainly Wu dialect and Gan dialect in Jiangxi province), we discuss the development and phonological strata. The last chapter is the conclusion, which introduces the vocabulary and grammar characteristics in Xikou dialect.