Readers 读者
Two features of language contact in Outuan Hmong language (in Chinese)
藕团苗语的两个接触特征
He Fu-ling 贺福凌
Abstract 摘要
Outuan Hmong language has much more finals than other Hmong dialects. In previous Hmong language literature, there is discrimination between the original finals and the loanwords finals; the loanwords finals have been treated in a less important position in the phonological system of Hmong language. This paper suggests to differentiate the original finals and the new finals. The new finals mean the newly-added original finals, which have the equal position with the original finals. The conclusion is based on four linguistic standards: some original words of Hmong language are pronounced in the new finals; some basic words in the new finals; some old loanwords in the new finals; some words which source cannot be recognized are pronounced in the new finals. In Outuan Hmong language, the number “one” and “eight” are homonym, which could lead to quite inefficient communication exchange and is uncommon in human language. To solve the problem, the native speakers discriminate “one” and “eight” by code-switching. These two features described above reflect a close contact between the Hmong language and the local Dong language and local Chinese dialect.
Subject Keywords 主题词
Hmong language 苗语 Finals 韵母 Numerals 数词 Language contact 语言接触
Journal of Chinese Linguistics vol.46, no.2 (June 2018): 316-335
Copyright © 2018 Journal of Chinese Linguistices. All rights reserved.