Abstract

<em>This paper gives a brief introduction on a research of an ongoing tonal variation in Lanzhou dialect, a northwest Chinese Mandarin. After doing data collection and sample analyses, we find that the tonal variation in this dialect appears in two ways: “Yinping” has two variants: a falling contour and a level contour; “Shangsheng” and “Qusheng” are merging. This phenomenon has been examined from three perspectives: a) phonology of Lanzhou dialect; b) perception test; c) social factors in language variation.</em>

Highlights

  • Many studies on Chinese tone change have focused more on its results than on its progress

  • This paper gives a brief introduction on a research of an ongoing tonal variation in Lanzhou dialect, a northwest Chinese Mandarin

  • After scrutinizing all the literatures concerning Lanzhou dialect (Huang, 1960; LZU, 1963; Gao, 1980; Liu, 1983; Wang, 1984; Song, 1991; Wang & Zhao, 1997; Zhang, 2003; Liu, 2004; Zhang, 2005; Luo, 2007; Zhang & Mo, 2009; Deng, 2009; Zhang, 2012), we find shangsheng has been described variously as falling, convex, level and rising contours in different documents; yinping citation tone was recorded as a falling contour in most cases except Song (1991) and Zhang (2005), which deviates from our intuition and research

Read more

Summary

A Brief Introduction on a Research of Lanzhou Tonal Variation

Li Yi1* & Tianxin Wen Foreign Language Department, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China 2 The High School Attached to Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China * Li Yi, Foreign Language Department, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.

Introduction
Two Variant Contours of Yinping
Findings
Conclusion

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.