R and L in archaic Chinese
古汉语的 R 与 L
Axel Schuessler 许思莱

Abstract 摘要
Scholars have lately suggested that the Ancient Chinese rhyme Division II reflects Archaic Chinese medial *-r-, and that Ancient Chinese - and ź- resulted also from an earlier liquid. Thanks to comparative as well as some internal evidence, we arrive at the conclusion that all Ancient Chinese Division II words as well as those with Ancient Chinese initial l- should be reconstructed with *r in Archaic Chinese, whereas Ancient Chinese - and ź- go back to unyodized and yodized initial *l- respectively. Ancient rhyme Division IV (vocalic medial i) is interpreted as resulting from earlier medial *l (e.g. Ancient Chinese kia from Archaic Chinese *klans).