The evolution of Rusheng(入声) rhyme in the Li(黎) Dialect of Dianbai(电白)

Abstract

From the aspects of syllabic length, coda segment and pitch contour, this paper investigates the evolution of Rusheng(入声) rhyme in the Li(黎) Dialect of Dianbai(电白) District, Shuidong(水东) Town. Firstly, the feature of syllabic length of Rusheng(入声) rhyme can be identified by measuring the length of syllables with omitted obstruent codas, obstruent codas and vocalic codas; Second, by conducting markedness analysis of coda segments, this investigation discusses how do obstruent codas [-p], [-t], [-k] develop; Thirdly, it illustrates the concomitant changes in tone pattern after the transformation of Rusheng(入声) rhyme in the Li(黎) Dialect of Shuidong(水东). This study leads to following conclusions: ① In the Li(黎) Dialect of Shuidong(水 东), 93 Rusheng(入声) characters have lost their codas and further lengthened their syllables. There is no significant difference in syllabic length between syllables with omitted obstruent codas and vocalic codas; ② Constrained by sonority hierarchy principle in Chinese, obstruent coda [-t] merged into [-k], and some Rusheng(入声) characters with [-p], [-k] codas have lost their codas; ③ Based on the similarities in pitch contour, Gaoping-tone (55) is newly developed from Yinru-tone (5) and Yangru-tone (2) is merging into Yangqu-tone (42). This helps to maintain the symmetry of tone system after above evolution of Rusheng(入声) rhyme in the Li(黎) Dialect of Shuidong(水东). 本文从时长、音段、音高三个维度考察电白水东黎话入声的发展情况。文章通过声学实验，测量水东黎话入声字、已舒化入声字、舒声字的时长；其次，对水东黎话的塞音韵尾音段做标记性描写，论述韵尾音段演变的理据；最后分析声调基频，讨论入声舒化后该音系的声调格局演变。结果显示，水东黎话中大部分入声字仍保持短促的时长特点，已舒化入声字有 93 个，这些舒化字和舒声字在时长上不存在显著性差异；在入声舒化过程中，受汉语音段序列响度峰原则的影响，水东黎话的韵尾[-t]与[-k]合并，[-p]、[-k]脱落；入声舒化后，由于声调基本性质相同或相近，阴入调（5）字自成一类高平调（55），阳入调（2）字归派入阳去调（42）中， 维持了水东黎话声调格局的平衡性。