Classification of Longyan
类分龙严话
David Prager

Abstract 摘要
1. INTRODUCTION This essay considers the classificatory status of the dialect spoken in the country seat of Longyan [Lóngyán] 龍巖 in western Fukien. Superificial inspection of Longyan dialect shows it to be very similar to the dialects of the Miinnan [Mǐnnán] 閩南 or Southern Miin [Mǐn] 閩 group. But when viewed systematically, Longyan suggests a subclassification of Coastal Miin that differs from the usual two-part division. The methods and conclusions of this paper are applicable to dialect field-work and classification in Taiwan and the whole Coastal Miin area. 2. INCOMPATIBLE MERGERS OF CONTRASTIVE FEATURES 3. LONGYAN AND THE MAJOR COASTAL MIIN DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES 3.1 The Behavior of Lower-Register Sibilants 3.2 Series 2 Initials in Tone {6} 4 LIKENESS TO JANGJOU 漳州DIALECT 4.1 The Significance of Longyan’s /ui /Rime 4.2 The Significance of the /е/ and ue/ Rimes 5. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE PROSPECTS