A Study Of The Pronunciation Of Ri-consonant Characters During Medieval Times In Hebei Dialect

The characters with ri as initial consonants (hereafter shortened as ri-consonant characters)in the medieval times has formed two series in contemporary Chinese Putonghua: er-seriesand ri-series, which are pronounced as and respectively.In Hebei dialect, the pronunciation of ri-consonant characters is rather complicated inCangzhou, Hengshui, Xingtai and Handan, which is attracting more attention. However, sofar no thorough study has been conducted about the causes of the uneven distribution of suchcharacters and the rule of their evolution. Guided by Handbook of Lexicons based on DialectFieldwork, we surveyed the various pronunciation of ri-consonant characters in Hebei dialectand then offers a detailed and objective description of the pronunciation as well as a summaryof the pronunciation types. Subsequently, relying on the distribution of zhi,zhuang,zhang-group characters in Hebei dialect and the expression of pronunciation of ri-consonantcharacters and zhang-group characters in modern Chinese literature, we examine theevolution of ri-consonant characters in Hebei dialect. The conclusion is that the unbalanceddevelopment of ri-consonant characters in medieval times is the synchronic projection ofdiachronic phonetic changes. This is also a solid proof for the pronunciation of consonants inri-consonant characters--“n,, l, z,”.This thesis is divided into6parts:ⅠIntroduction Here we summarize the significance, outline, and content of the researchon ri-consonant characters, establishing the focus and difficult points of the research as wellas the research methods.II. Description of the pronunciation of ri-consonant characters in Hebei dialect. This partprovides a detailed list of the pronunciation of ri-consonant characters in Hebei dialect, in atable on regional basis. With reference to Putonghua, considering the features of ri-consonantcharacters in Hebei dialect, the pronunciation status of these characters are listed in southLangfang, Cangzhou, Hengshui, Xingtai, Handan and Zhangjiakou. Meanwhile, the featuresof pronunciation distribution of ri-series characters and er-series characters are summarized.In this way it is easy to understand the overall picture of the pronunciation of ri-consonantcharacters in Hebei dialect, offering a detailed and thorough material for the following discussion.Ⅲ. Types and distribution of ri-consonant characters in Hebei dialect. Our survey shows that:as for ri-series characters, the consonants in Hebei dialect include z, z,0,1, and n. consonant is mainly in Baoding, northern Langfang and the area further north; z-consonant is mainly in middle and western area of Zhangjiakou;0-consonant and l-consonant is mainly in Shijiazhuang, Cangzhou and the area further north, though some of the characters are pronounced as n-consonant. As for er-series characters, the pronunciation types in Hebei dialect consist of (?) which displays a complicated distribution.(?)(?) and a are mainly in Baoding, Langfang and the area further north, while (?) Shijiazhuang, Hengshui and the area further south.IV. The pronunciation of ri-consonant characters.In this part we describe the pronunciation development of ri-consonant characters of northern dialect in some rhythmic dictionaries since Zhongyuan Yinyun, and, together with zhang-group characters discuss and study the track of phonetic change concerning the diachronic development of ri-consonant characters. This part lays the theoretical foundation for the later discussion of pronunciation of ri-consonant characters in Hebei dialect.V. The comparison of the pronunciation of zhi,zhuang,zhang-group characters with that of the ri-consonant characters demonstrates that in Hebei dialect zhi,zhuang,zhang-group characters have not developed in line with ri-consonant characters.Historical issues of the pronunciation of ri-consonant characters in Hebei dialect.The ri-consonant characters in medieval times are of third-category rhythmic entries with i(iu), which is lost in Putonghua. The ri-series characters in Hebei dialect include sever pronunciation types. Some of them still retain i(iu) while others have lost it. This means they are just the result of different historical development. Since Zhongyuan Yinyun, the zhi-and she-characters in ri-consonant characters have shifted to zhi-si rhythm, with consonant. But in Putonghua er-series characters are pronounced without initial consonant. As for er-series in Hebei dialect, some areas have changed to zero initial consonant but some have not. This shows that the er-series characters which are pronounced as (?) are not at the same level.VI. Conclusion This part is a summary of the research we have done in previous sections and the conclusion is that the pronunciation of ri-consonant characters in Hebei dialect during medieval time is the synchronic projection of diachronic phonetic changes.The pronunciation of ri-consonant characters in medieval times across China is rathercomplicated. Most modern studies of ri-consonant dialect focus on its value, describe itspronunciation in two dimensions, or attach its research onto zhi and zhao series. But fewthoroughly examine the development history. As we know, the ri-consonant characters duringGuangyun period are of the third-category characters, with i(iu). During Zhongyuan Yinyunperiod, under the influence of retroflexion of initial consonants, northern dialect graduallyhave its third-category i(u) lost. In Putonghua, i(u) have completely lost. Relying on thedevelopment rule of ri-consonant characters and the features of Hebei dialect, we summarizethe pronunciation of ri-consonant dialect in Hebei dialect. The examination of this subjectwill not only help to the study of Hebei dialects but also contribute to the understanding andstudy of the development of the pronunciation of ri-consonant characters across China.Moreover, by comparing ri-consonant characters with zhi,zhuang,zhang-group characters, wefind that though both of them in medieval times are the third-category characters inzhao-series, they experienced various degree of development in Hebei dialect, an area whichhas not been thoroughly studied.