Chinese Dialect Classification: A comparative approach to Harngjou, Old Jintarn, and Common Northern Wu

Author:   Richard VanNess Simmons (Rutgers University)
Publisher:   John Benjamins Publishing Co
Volume:   188
ISBN:  

9789027236944


Pages:   317
Publication Date:   15 November 1999
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
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Chinese Dialect Classification: A comparative approach to Harngjou, Old Jintarn, and Common Northern Wu


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Overview

This volume is an investigation and classification of dialects along the Wu and Jiang-Hwai Mandarin border in China's eastern Yangtze Valley. It is the first monograph-length study to critically question the traditional single criterion of initial voicing for the classification of Wu dialects and propose a comprehensive comparative framework as a more successful alternative. Arguing that dialect affiliation is best determined through analysis of dialect correspondence to common phonological systems, the author develops a taxonomic analysis that definitively distinguishes Common Northern Wu and Mandarin dialects. By clarifying dialect affiliation in the Wu and Mandarin border region, this volume makes significant contributions to our understanding of the true nature of the region's dialects and their history. Using primarily data drawn from the author's own fieldwork, the volume contains copious comparative examples and an extensive lexicon of the Old Jintarn dialect.

Full Product Details

Author:   Richard VanNess Simmons (Rutgers University)
Publisher:   John Benjamins Publishing Co
Imprint:   John Benjamins Publishing Co
Volume:   188
Weight:   0.570kg
ISBN:  

9789027236944


ISBN 10:   9027236941
Pages:   317
Publication Date:   15 November 1999
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

1. Acknowledgments; 2. Introduction; 3. Map; 4. Chapter 1: The Problem of Harngjou; 5. 0. Brief background; 6. 1. The Mandarin nature of Harngjou phonology; 7. 2. The Mandarin nature of Harngjou lexicon; 8. 3. Harngjou's Wu-like tendencies; 9. Chapter 2: Identifying Wu Dialects; 10. 0. The goal; 11. 1. Some previous definitions of Wu dialect affiliation; 12. 2. Classifying Wu dialects by reference to a common phonology; 13. 3. The problems with Chiehyunn based classification; 14. Chapter 3: Common Northern Wu; 15. 0. Preliminaries; 16. 1. Common initial categories; 17. 2. Common tone categories; 18. 3. Common final categories; 19. 4. Common distinctions; 20. 5. Wu characteristics and the common system; 21. 6. A refurbished set of diagnostic criteria; 22. 7. A Mandarin-Wu taxonomic key for Jiangsu and Jehjiang; 23. Chapter 4: Jintarn: The City and its Dialects; 24. 0. Brief background; 25. 1. The history of Jintarn; 26. 2. The current dialect situation: Old and New Jintarn; 27. 3. My Old Jintarn informant; 28. 4. Old Jintarn phonology; 29. Chapter 5: Old Jintarn and Danyang: Their Common System and Correlation with Common Northern Wu (CNW); 30. 0. Preliminaries; 31. 1. Comparison of their initials; 32. 2. Comparison of Old Jintarn and Danyang initials to CNW; 33. 3. Comparison of their finals; 34. 4. Comparison of Old Jintarn and Danyang finals to CNW; 35. 5. Danyang and Jintarn tone categories compared; 36. 6. Comparison of Old Jintarn and Danyang tones to CNW; 37. 7. Implications of the Jintarn/Danyang reflection of CNW; 38. Chapter 6: A Demonstration of the Taxonomic Procedure; 39. 0. Introduction; 40. 1. Check for Mandarin affiliation; 41. 2. Confirm and characterize Wu affiliation; 42. 3. Verify affiliation with the Tayhwu group; 43. 4. Review and evaluation of the results; 44. Chapter 7: Concluding Observations; 45. 0. Outline of the findings; 46. 1. Voiced obstruents as a taxonomically insignificant feature; 47. 2. Comparative characterization in terms of a common system; 48. 3. A taxonomy for CNW where it borders Mandarin; 49. 4. The Old Jintarn-Danyang subset of Common Northern Wu; 50. 5. Looking again at Harngjou and beyond; 51. References; 52. Appendix 1: Informants; 53. Appendix 2: Old Jintarn Syllabary; 54. Appendix 3: Old Jintarn Lexicon; 55. Appendix 4: English to Old Jintarn Glossary; 56. Index

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