THESIS
2017
xvi, 235 pages : illustrations, maps ; 30 cm
Abstract
This thesis is a comprehensive study on the phonetic characteristics of citation tones in
Chaoshan Chinese. It presents the tonal patterns of 65 localities in the Chaoshan area under
the “multiple-register and four level” tonal model. Three case studies are conducted to delve
into the evolutionary paths of Chaoshan tones.
Fourteen tonal patterns identified in Chaoshan Chinese can be further divided into three
groups based on their synchronic variations and diachronic changes, namely Shanjie type,
Huipu type and Chaoyang type. This finding can shed light on the linguistic classification of
Chaoshan Chinese.
In the Huipu area, two tonal chain shifts are proposed to account for the diversified tonal
patterns within this area. The V-shaped shift involving the downward shift of fall...[
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This thesis is a comprehensive study on the phonetic characteristics of citation tones in
Chaoshan Chinese. It presents the tonal patterns of 65 localities in the Chaoshan area under
the “multiple-register and four level” tonal model. Three case studies are conducted to delve
into the evolutionary paths of Chaoshan tones.
Fourteen tonal patterns identified in Chaoshan Chinese can be further divided into three
groups based on their synchronic variations and diachronic changes, namely Shanjie type,
Huipu type and Chaoyang type. This finding can shed light on the linguistic classification of
Chaoshan Chinese.
In the Huipu area, two tonal chain shifts are proposed to account for the diversified tonal
patterns within this area. The V-shaped shift involving the downward shift of falling tones
and the upward shift of rising tones, can explain the tonal development from Jinghai dialect to
Liusha dialect. The downward chain shift of level tones is hypothesized to explain the
age-related differences of Jinghai dialect.
Based on the variations within and across speakers and dialectal varieties in the
Chaoyang area, the evolutionary path of T2a is identified. T2a has changed from a high
convex falling tone to a high level tone, and subsequently a rising tone. The tendency of
change observed among different age groups is parallel with that revealed by different
geographical variations. The younger speakers of Miancheng dialect change T2a to a rising
tone, and this development further triggers a pull chain shift that consists of T2a, T3b and
T1a.
By referring to the different pitch relationships of checked tones (T4a and T4b) in
distinctive Southern Min dialects, four stages are identified for the “flip-flop” change of
checked tones from “Yin-high vs. Yang-low” to “Yin-low vs. Yang-high”. Yun’ao and Dahao
dialects, being at the transitional stages, are characterized by different pitch contours in T4a
and T4b. The Yun’ao case is of great typological significance for it signals that phonetically
short tone syllables can have contour distinctions as well. Moreover, it supports the claim that
the historical “flip-flop” of checked tones in Chaoshan Chinese is actually accomplished via a
process of gradual phonetic change. Different tonal contours and different phonation types are the reason why this gradual phonetic change does not cause a tonal merger of T4a and T4b.
In sum, this thesis provides a large-scale typological study on Chaoshan Chinese, and
offers a good example of how to figure out the evolutionary paths of tones from the
perspective of variation. The natural alliance of phonetics, historical linguistics,
sociolinguistics, and dialect geography is reinforced. It is also suggested in this thesis that the
joint use of these four disciplines is very promising for the study of Chinese.
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