南方語言和文化接觸 ― 論漢壯語言接觸對現代壯語音系的影響

Abstract

Zhuang is one of the many languages in the Tai language family, which, according to Li Fang-kuei, is comprised of three branches: Northern, Central, and Southern. Zhuang itself is divided into two branches, Northern and Southern. This paper explores the changes in the Zhuang phonological system due to centuries of contact with Chinese and other unknown influences, both internal and external. These changes involve devoicing of voiced initial consonants; simplification of consonant clusters; r- changing to l-, the emergence of affricate and aspirate initial consonants; loss of final stops -t -p -k high vowel - lowering to the middle vowel -; loss of phonemic contrast between long and short vowels; and merging of tones can be seen as the changes that resulted from contact with Chinese. Several of the phonological changes found in Zhuang are areal in nature, but the Zhuang accommodation to Chinese phonology is in the direction of eventually complete assimilation.