The Influence of Aspiration on Tones
送气声母对于声调的影响
Feng Shi 石锋

Abstract 摘要
The cases of tonal split based on the aspiration or the lack of it in the initials are widely found in Miao-Yao, Kam, and Chinese dialects such as Wu and Gan. An over-whelming majority of the tones of the syllables with aspirated initials show a lower pitch than those of the syllables with corresponding unaspirated initials. The tonal split in Wu is not fully completed. The same case can be found in Kam as well. However, the processes of these cases are different. In Wu dialect, the tonal split began from non-level tones, i.e. rising, departing, and entering tones, and spread to level tone, whereas it began from the first tone (corresponding to level tone of Chinese) and spread to other tones (corresponding to non-level tones of Chinese) in Kam. The pitch of a syllable comes from the vibration frequency of the vocal folds. The internal factor of the vibration frequency of vocal folds is the tension degree of the larynx muscle influenced directly from the position of the larynx. The external factor of the vibration frequency of vocal folds is the air-stream from the lung. The lowering of the larynx and the intermittent air-stream tend to lower the pitch of the syllables with aspirated initials. Finally, discussion is provided in three aspects to explore the reason for the higher pitch with aspirated initials in other places.

本文列出汉语吴方言、赣方言和苗瑶语、侗语中的送气分调现象来考察送气声母对于声调的影响。绝大多数送气调都低于对应的非送气调。汉语吴方言中送气调是不完全分化。侗语送气调也有不完全的分化。吴方言的送气调从非平声开始首先分化，然后向其它声调扩散；而侗语中却是首先在第一调开始分化，再向其它各调扩展。二者之间同中有异。声调的高低决定于声带的振动。喉肌紧张度是声带振动快慢的内因。肺部气流的冲击是声带振动快慢的外因。送气音和不送气音在辅音的持阻期和除阻期以及除阻之后和后接元音的开始阶段，都表现出对立的差异，并且这些差异都具有使送气音的后接元音基频降低的趋势。文中最后分三方面讨论了某些语言和方言中送气音为高调的原因。

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