Khitan Small Script Research Articles

On Some Glyphs of Khitan Small Script

In 2017, Further Research on Khitan Small Script was published, which revised and summarized the phonetic value of 300 glyphs. However, with the discovery of new materials and an increasing number of researchers, new progress has been made in the reconstruction of Khitan small script. This paper aims to introduce the latest research results on the reconstruction of 8 glyphs in Khitan small script.

A Sample of a Khitan–English–Chinese Wordlist with Etymological Remarks: Letters A and B

The paper offers a sample of a Khitan–English–Chinese Wordlist in preparation by scholars from the People’s Republic of China and Hungary. After a preface on general questions, it deals with the glyphs beginning with a- and b- in the Khitan Small Script. This is followed by Khitan words beginning with the first two letters of the Latin alphabet. The aim of the paper is to open a discussion on a future Khitan Etymological Dictionary.

A Study on the Verb ‘to marry’ in Khitan Scripts

By sorting and comparing 18 verb forms in Khitan Small Script and 7 verb forms in Khitan Large Script that denote ‘to marry, to be given as wife’, the current study deals with the relation between the Khitan Large Script and Khitan Small Script forms. Further, it analyzes problems connected with their orthography, morphological and grammatical structure, with the grammatical cases governed by the verb and considers possible etymologies of the verbal stem.

Khitan Studies. •

AbstractIn the fifth part of this series of papers the authors investigate the way how the Khitan Small Script (KSS) rendered the oral velar and uvular consonants stops in initial position.

KHITAN STUDIES I. THE GLYPHS OF THE KHITAN SMALL SCRIPT 3. THE CONSONANTS, 3.2. THE DENTAL STOPS

In the fourth part of this series of papers the authors investigate the way how the Khitan Small Script rendered the dental stops in initial position. They conclude that the main opposition was between the postaspirated and not postaspirated dental stops.

The Khitan Names of the Five Capitals

Abstract This paper surveys the Khitan names of the so-called “Five Capitals” of the Liao empire (907–1125). In this connection, the lexemes denoting the compass points (north, south, east, west) and related expressions of orientation (right, left, centre) are examined in the light of the information supplied by the relevant historical context and the extant corpus of Khitan Small Script texts. In addition, the dynastic name of the Liao empire is also discussed. The discussion reveals several previously unobserved details of linguistic, philological, historical, and cultural interest, and allows the Khitan system of orientation to be placed in the general context of comparative Mongolic studies.

Khitan Studies I. The Glyphs of the Khitan Small Script

This paper investigates how the Khitan Small Script renders labial stops of the Khitan language in the initial position of words and syllables. Furthermore, it deals with the problems of alloglyphs, drawings of similar shape, and denotations of the same phoneme. The paper begins with the use of glyphs in cases where they transcribe Chinese words. Evidence permitting, this is followed by the use of glyphs in cases of Chinese loanwords and names—subjects in which we have a robust background. Finally, it examines words of Khitan origin with initial labial stops. The result of our investigation is that postaspiration was the distinguishing feature in the binary opposition of labial stops. Alternation of <b> ~ <p> writing is common in cases where a word occurs with high frequency. To demonstrate this, we used the Khitan Corpus published in 2017.

Reconstructing the Khitan vowel system and vowel spelling rule through the Khitan Small Script

This paper reconstructs the Khitan vowel system by analysing materials concerning the Khitan Small Script. First, the approximate phonetic values of the graphemes were determined by systematically comparing Khitan transcriptions of Chinese words with their original Chinese sounds and by analysing Khitan rhymes. Next, an exhaustive survey of two adjacent graphemes in a corpus elucidated the script’s spelling rule and thus were the accurate phonetic values determined. Finally, a comparative study based on the reconstructed values established regular vowel correspondences between Khitan and Mongolian. In conclusion, the author presents twelve Khitan vowel phonemes that are distinguished by four vocalic features.

Recent developments on the decipherment of the Khitan small script

The authors review the past century of Khitan studies in Hungary and introduce the latest achievements in this field in China, the country that has become the centre of academic scrutiny for the decipherment of Khitan script in recent decades. Arranged in a chronologic order for the first time, an exhaustive list of the main known Khitan Small Script monuments is also included, followed by a selected bibliography of essential pieces on Khitan studies.

Khitan studies I. The graphs of the Khitan Small Script. 2. The vowels

In the second part of this series of papers the author investigates the way how the Khitan Small Script rendered the vowels of the Khitan language. The graphic system was tailored to the contemporary Chinese language, nevertheless, it is possible to make conclusions concerning the system of vowels. Three illabial vowels /a/, /e/ and /i/ can be identified, the back vocalic /ï/ can only be supposed. The vowel /o/ is dominant, for traces of /ö/ no sure data can be given. The phoneme /u/ can be clearly detected, the phoneme /ü/ can be supposed. The former opinion that the Khitan had a front:back vowel harmony can be confirmed. The paper presents a few newly deciphered Khitan words. The system of the Khitan word formation is emerging and a few earlier readings have been corrected.

Khitan Studies I. The Graphs Of The Khitan Small Script

In the first part of this series of papers the author investigates the peculiarities and structure of the graphs of the Khitan Small Script. The graphs are polyvalent, and their phonetic values are based on and reflect the understanding of the Chinese phonetic system of the period. The list of graphs includes allographs and variants, further graphs with the same phonetic value but having different form(s). Some graphs have dotted and nondotted pairs. The Romanisation of the graphs is a convention by modern Chinese and European scholars. In some cases the phonetic value of a given graph is unknown, but its meaning is known; these are called logographs. Dotted forms and the numeric system are also investigated.

Remarks on the ethnonym Khitan

The paper deals with the Old Turkic and other forms of the ethnonym Qïtan. In some recent works the ethnonym of the Khitans occurring in the Khitan Small Script is transcribed as qid.un. The author claims that in Khitan there was a tripartite opposition for nouns denoting living things: singular, collective unit, and plural. The ethnonym accordingly had three forms, qïta, qïtan and qïtas. The plural in -s is different from the Middle Mongolian form qïtad, but is in accordance with other Khitan plurals in -s.

The Orthographic Distinction of Vowel Length in the Khitan Small Script

The Orthographic Distinction of Vowel Length in the Khitan Small Script

A comparative study on official title of Khitan in the Khitan small script and word explanation in the history of Liao

Recently, new material appeared in Khitan scripts. At the same time, research has also been made actively. Thus, research of Khitan language and scripts has become a very important task in study of Altaic language. In this study, I compare Chinese character with Khitan small script in official title of Khitan.<BR> Conclusions were as follows:<BR> 1. Chinese character used in official title of Khitan was relatively accurate.<BR> 2. Words that are not appeared in the historical record could also see in Khitan small script.<BR> 3. There are many Chinese loanwords in Khitan language.<BR> 4. Some of the differences appeared between Khitan small scripts and 3.<BR> Chinese characters. And some of the differences are important indicator of the future analysis.<BR> - Iriphil(夷??) and Ima(林牙) differ from the notation in vowel and further precise analysis is required.<BR> - Consonant between two vowels do not appear or disappear in the process of the change of Mongolian language. The same phenomenon appears in Khitan language[Alrota(斡??), Uwol(于越), Ima(林牙)].<BR><BR> There is a need to detailed analysis for official title in word explanation of history of Liao. Especially the pronunciation of Khitan script used in the 11th century from 10th century connects to the 13-14century’s pronunciation of Chinese character is very difficult. But data are summarized and future research will be even better. We believe these problems are resolved automatically.

About the new materials of Xiao dilu and Yelü xiangwen epitaph in the Khitan Small Script

About the new materials of Xiao dilu and Yelü xiangwen epitaph in the Khitan Small Script

Deciphering some demonstrative pronouns in Khitan small script

Deciphering some demonstrative pronouns in Khitan small script