The Survey on the Distribution of MC Fei and Xiao Initial Groups in Chinese Dialects

Abstract

MC Fei and Xiao initial groups are always mixed together in the southern part of China. It can be divided into four sections according to the distribution: the northern area, the southwestern area, the southern area, the southeastern area. The mixing is very simple in the northern area, while in Sichuan it is the most extensive and complex. The southern area only includes Hunan and Guangxi where ethnic minorities gather, and the mixing is very complicated. Ancient languages are preserved in the southeastern area where there are still bilabial sounds and initial consonant [h], but the mixing is simple. There are two different evolution processes of Fei initial group diverging from Bang initial group, one is evolving from [p], [b] to [pf], then [f]; the other is from [fu] to [hu] [1]. This could be easy to explain why MC Fei initial group is read as [x] in some Chinese dialects. Immigration is also one of the important reasons.