Hmong Dialect And Nose Crown Initials Of Acoustic Experiments

Based on field investigation and repeated experiments in 1950s, the standard of dividing Miao into 3 dialects is established. According to the reflecting form of pre-nasalized stop in ancient Miao, the types and families of Miao dialects are defined. The 3 dialects are Xiangxi, Chuanqiandian and Qiandong , among which differences between sub-dialects and local dialects exist. But arguments about the existation of pre-nasalized consonant of the Miao language have been keeping till now. Some linguists think there is pre-nasalized consonant in Miao, which is nasal sound with pre-nasalized consonant before plosive and affricate, but others think that isn't nasal sound, but voiced consonant.With the help of simple instruments and using experiments, some linguists have preliminarily proved there is pre-nasalized consonant in Xiangxi dialect. Based on it and taking Xiangxi dialect and Chuanqiandian dialect as the subjects of phonetic experiments, this paper further proves pre-nasalized consonant really exists in Miao and explains acoustic features of pre-nasalized consonant by the means of data and spetrum.Using the method of experimental phonetics, this paper chooses some words in Xiangxi dialect and Chuanqiandian dialect, and, according to 7 different phonetic positions and 3 appearing conditions, analyzes their acoustic features and phonetic atlas, and makes the following conclusions:1. There are syllables of nasal sound +plosive / affricate in the same position, that is to say, pre-nasalized clusters really exists in the two dialects.2. Nasal sound and plosive combine closely, become one syllable and share one tone.3. In the two consonants, the value of the one after nasal sound is long and strong; the other one's value is short and weak.4. Pre-nasalized consonant lacks independence. The property of initial consonant is determined by its stops, and pre-nasalized consonant doesn't work. Stop is the main part of pre-nasalized consonant.5. In the structure of "Open syllable + pre- nasalized syllable", nasal sound and vowel of last syllable combine closely and become new syllable constructing form.This paper uses analytical method of experimental phonetics, which, with the help of modern experimental instruments and software, analyzes the phonetic features, provides basis of physical experiment for phonetic research, and reaches a new world which traditional linguistics, using ear and mouth to discern sound never reached. This method is rather helpful for analyzing languages of minorities, because it not only can provide methodology for linguists, but is practicable. This paper tries to discuss pre-nasalized initials in modern Miao dialects, whose existation keeps as historical argument. It is unavoidable to have some mistakes, but it lay solid foundation for further acoustic experiments of taking human's acustic biology as main subject.