Standard Chinese: Difference between revisions

From Roses, Tulips, & Liberty
Content added Content deleted
VisualWikitext
m (Minor spelling error.)
m (Rewrote history and improved explanations.)
 
(4 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox language|boxsize=300px|pronunciation=[hwa.y˨˩˨]|nativename=華語|nation=[[China]]|name=Standard Chinese|fam1=Serican|fam2=Sinitic|fam3=Mandarin}}
{{Infobox language
| name = Standard Chinese
| image = Jiatai Era Mencius title page.jpg
| imagesize = 300px
| nativename = 華語
| pronunciation = [hway]
| states = [[China]]
| ethnicity = [[Chinese people]]
| fam1 = Serican
| script = Chinese characters
| nation = [[China]]
|boxsize=200px|fam2=Sinitic|fam3=Mandarin|fam4=Namging Mandarin}}'''Standard Chinese''' (華語, ''hwaü'', /hway/, lit. 'Chinese language'), commonly known as '''Mandarin''', is the standard variety of Chinese and official language of [[China]]. It is based on the Namging dialect of Mandarin with significant influence from Cantonese during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a result, today it poses a striking resemblance to the old court dialect of the Ming dynasty, leading some to refer to it as '''New Ming Mandarin''' (新明語). The current dialect began its genesis after the [[Canton War]] and formally organized during the early 20th century by Chinese linguists, eventually being selected by the Chinese republican government in 1938.


'''Standard Chinese''' (華語, ''hwãü,'' /hwa.y/, lit. 'Chinese language'), commonly known as '''Mandarin,''' is a standard variety of Chinese used as the official language of [[China]]. It is based on the Mandarin dialect of Namging with significant influence from Cantonese. The current dialect began its standardization after the [[Canton War]] and was adopted as the official language and lingua franca of China in 1938. The language primarily written with Chinese characters, though informal Latin script is used in countries such as [[Tauland]] and [[Tussenland]].
The language is written with Chinese characters and has possessed one officially recognized romanization system since the 1940s. Today, this standard variety is mostly spoken within China. Nevertheless, it has varying degrees of influence in countries such as [[Mongolia]], [[Serindia]], [[Soenda]], [[Poeja]], [[Tauland]], [[Viet Nam]], [[Pinang]], and the [[Westerzee|Westerzee province]] of [[Tussenland]], among others.


== History ==
== History ==
Modern Standard Chinese is a descendant of the Mandarin of the late Ming and [[Qing|Western Qing]] imperial courts, which were based on the dialect of the city of Namging. During the early 19th century, the basis for standard speech was gradually moving to Beiging. This process was interrupted with the [[Canton War]] of the 1850s. As a consequence, imperial Mandarin was split; the ancient Namging dialect remained prestigious in the southern [[Kingdom of Canton|Ye dynasty]], while the Beiging pronunciation quickly became popular in the post-war Qing dynasty and among emigrants to [[Poeja]] and [[Mongolia]]. The later half of the century saw the introduction of a large [[Cantonese]] influence on the Mandarin dialect of Namging. In a few generations, this resulted in numerous phonological changes, including the revival of the ''-m'' coda and ''ŋ-'' initial, [x] becoming a glottal [h], general de-palatalization, as well as the loss of any retroflex sounds acquired up until that point.
The basis for the Standard Chinese of today began forming after the [[Canton War]], where the [[Qing|Qing dynasty]] was split into two states. At that point in time, the court dialect of the empire was mainly based on that of Namging, though there was a conscious shift in favor of the dialect of Beiging, the capital. As a result of the War, the two court dialects of Namging and Beiging were forcibly isolated from one another, with the former being used in the 'Kingdom of Canton' and the latter quickly being adopted by the Qing government of the north.


Starting in the 20th century, this new evolution of the Namging dialect was extensively studied and formalized. In 1938, with the abolition of the Qing and Ye dynasties, the new dialect was adopted as the national standard by the Chinese Republic.
During the period of partition, the Namging dialect became increasingly influenced by Cantonese, which had been standardized and adopted as one of the primary languages of the southern government. Several phonetic shifts occurred in Namging Mandarin over these seven decades, with many of these changes resembling those of 17th century Mandarin. Notables ones include the revival of the ''-m'' coda and ''ŋ-'' initial, [x] becoming a glottal [h], general de-palatalization, as well as the loss of any retroflex sounds acquired from northern Mandarin dialects up until that point.

By the early 1920s, the new dialect of Namging (what now is Standard Chinese) began being studied by linguists in [[China]] as well as in [[Japan]] and [[Tauland]]. As a consequence of the coup d'État of Sinwei (辛未) in 1931, the Siehwei Society (國語復興協會) became increasingly successful in promoting the new Namging dialect as the ''lingua franca'' of a united Chinese Republic. Support from organizations in the Qing dynasty, Mongolia, Corea, and Japan allowed the Society to gain unparalleled prominence. Two years after the annexation of the Qing dynasty, the aforementioned dialect was designated the standard variety and official language of China in 1938.

== Geographic distribution ==


== Phonology ==
== Phonology ==
Line 97: Line 82:


* The checked tone ''ʔ'' and ''-m'' codas are maintained. For example, 甘肅 is read as ''Gamsu'' /ka<u>m</u>su/.
* The checked tone ''ʔ'' and ''-m'' codas are maintained. For example, 甘肅 is read as ''Gamsu'' /ka<u>m</u>su/.
* [ts, tsʰ, s] are often palatalized to [tɕ, tɕʰ, ɕ] in front of front high vowels, a feature called ''źiantwanholiw'' 尖團合流. It is represented in orthography by placing an acute accent ◌́ over the consonant to indicate its palatalization.
* /s, ts, tsʰ/ are often palatalized to the sibilants /ɕ, tɕ, tɕʰ/ in front of high front vowels (/i, y/), a feature called ''źiantwanholiw'' 尖團合流. It is represented in orthography by placing an acute accent ◌́ over the consonant to indicate its palatalization. These are derived primarily from the alveolar and retroflex sibilants (/ts, tsʰ, dz, s, z/ - /ʈʂ, ʈʂʰ, ɖʐ, ʂ, ʐ/) of Middle Chinese.
* [ʃ, tʃ, tʃʰ] are allophones of /ɕ, tɕ, tɕʰ/, used mainly by some communities in southern China.
* Retroflexes found in Beiging Mandarin are merged into their alveolar counterparts. Retroflex [ɻ] is often merged into [j].
* Retroflexes found in Beiging Mandarin are merged into their alveolar counterparts. The rhotic retroflex [ɻ] is often merged into [j].


==== Semi-vowels ====
==== Semi-vowels ====
Semi-vowels, also known as glides, can act as initials, medials, or finals in Standard Chinese syllables. They may have different orthographic representations depending on their position. [j, ɥ, w] are considered to be the three semivowels, corresponding to their vowel equivalents [i, y, u]. The table below shows how each glide sounds and appears orthographically in different positions.
Semi-vowels, also known as glides, can act as initials, medials, or finals in syllables. /j, ɥ, w/, the three semivowels, correspond to their vocalic counterparts [i, y, u]. The table below shows how each glide sounds and appears orthographically in different positions.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Glide
!
!Initial
!Initial
!Medial
!Medial
Line 109: Line 95:
|-
|-
!/j/
!/j/
|j [j]
|j
| colspan="2" |i
|i [j]
|i [i]
|-
|-
!/ɥ/
!/ɥ/
|y [ɥ]
|y
|u [y]
|ü
|—
|—
|-
|-
!/w/
!/w/
| colspan="3" |w
|w [w]
|w [w]
|w [u]
|}
|}
In final position, glides are considered to be part of diphthongs (for example, /s<u>a'''i'''</u>/ 塞). Meanwhile in medial position, glides often transform diphthongs into triphthongs (/s<u>ai</u>/ 塞 ''vs.'' /s<u>'''w'''ai</u>/ 帥).
In final position, glides are considered to be part of diphthongs (for example, /s<u>a'''i'''</u>/ 塞). Meanwhile in medial position, glides often transform diphthongs into triphthongs (/s<u>ai</u>/ 塞 ''vs.'' /s<u>'''w'''ai</u>/ 帥).
Line 264: Line 247:
|
|
|}
|}

==== Tones ====
Standard Chinese has five tones, along with a neutral tone (sometimes classified as toneless).
{| class="wikitable"
!No.
|1
|2
|3
|4
|5
|6
|-
!Diacritic
|ā
|á
|ã
|à
|ȧ
|a
|-
!Name
|陰平
|陽平
|上
|去
|入
|輕
|-
!Description
|Dark level
|Light level
|Rising
|Departing
|Entering
|Neutral
|-
!Contour
|/˥/ 55
|/˩˧/ 13
|/˨˩˨/ 212
|/˧˩/ 31
|/˥/ 5
|—
|-
!MC
|1
|2
|3
|5
| colspan="2" |—
|-
!Example
|巴 ''bā''
|麻 ''má''
|傻 ''sã''
|把 ''bà''
|札 ''zȧ''
|嗎 ''ma''
|}
Unlike more northern varieties of Mandarin, Standard Chinese preserves the entering tone (入, ''jù'') found in southern varieties of Mandarin and southern Chinese languages like [[Cantonese]]. The entering tone is realized as a glottal stop /ʔ/.


== Vocabulary ==
== Vocabulary ==

Latest revision as of 22:41, 25 January 2023

Standard Chinese
華語
Pronunciation[hwa.y˨˩˨]
Language family
Serican
  • Sinitic
    • Mandarin
      • Standard Chinese
Official status
Official language in
China

Standard Chinese (華語, hwãü, /hwa.y/, lit. 'Chinese language'), commonly known as Mandarin, is a standard variety of Chinese used as the official language of China. It is based on the Mandarin dialect of Namging with significant influence from Cantonese. The current dialect began its standardization after the Canton War and was adopted as the official language and lingua franca of China in 1938. The language primarily written with Chinese characters, though informal Latin script is used in countries such as Tauland and Tussenland.

History

Modern Standard Chinese is a descendant of the Mandarin of the late Ming and Western Qing imperial courts, which were based on the dialect of the city of Namging. During the early 19th century, the basis for standard speech was gradually moving to Beiging. This process was interrupted with the Canton War of the 1850s. As a consequence, imperial Mandarin was split; the ancient Namging dialect remained prestigious in the southern Ye dynasty, while the Beiging pronunciation quickly became popular in the post-war Qing dynasty and among emigrants to Poeja and Mongolia. The later half of the century saw the introduction of a large Cantonese influence on the Mandarin dialect of Namging. In a few generations, this resulted in numerous phonological changes, including the revival of the -m coda and ŋ- initial, [x] becoming a glottal [h], general de-palatalization, as well as the loss of any retroflex sounds acquired up until that point.

Starting in the 20th century, this new evolution of the Namging dialect was extensively studied and formalized. In 1938, with the abolition of the Qing and Ye dynasties, the new dialect was adopted as the national standard by the Chinese Republic.

Phonology

The phonemic inventory of Standard Chinese consists of 25 distinct phonemes, divided into 16 initial consonants, 3 common allophone initials, 3 semi-vowels/glides, and 37 finals.

Chinese syllables

In Chinese, syllables have the form of (CG)V(X) and can consist of a maximum of four parts:

  • Initial (usually a consonant)
  • Medial (a semi-vowel)
  • Nucleus (a vowel, and is present in all syllables)
  • Ending (a vowel or nasal consonant)

Initials

Labial Denti-alveolar Alveolo-palatal Velar Glottal
Nasal m /m/ n /n/ ng /ŋ/
Stop aspirated p /pʰ/ t /tʰ/ k /kʰ/ ʔ
unaspirated b /p/ d /t/ g /k/
Affricate aspirated c /tsʰ/ ć /tɕʰ/
unaspirated z /ts/ ź /tɕ/
Fricative f /f/ s /s/ ś /ɕ/ h /h/
Liquid l /l/
  • The checked tone ʔ and -m codas are maintained. For example, 甘肅 is read as Gamsu /kamsu/.
  • /s, ts, tsʰ/ are often palatalized to the sibilants /ɕ, tɕ, tɕʰ/ in front of high front vowels (/i, y/), a feature called źiantwanholiw 尖團合流. It is represented in orthography by placing an acute accent ◌́ over the consonant to indicate its palatalization. These are derived primarily from the alveolar and retroflex sibilants (/ts, tsʰ, dz, s, z/ - /ʈʂ, ʈʂʰ, ɖʐ, ʂ, ʐ/) of Middle Chinese.
  • [ʃ, tʃ, tʃʰ] are allophones of /ɕ, tɕ, tɕʰ/, used mainly by some communities in southern China.
  • Retroflexes found in Beiging Mandarin are merged into their alveolar counterparts. The rhotic retroflex [ɻ] is often merged into [j].

Semi-vowels

Semi-vowels, also known as glides, can act as initials, medials, or finals in syllables. /j, ɥ, w/, the three semivowels, correspond to their vocalic counterparts [i, y, u]. The table below shows how each glide sounds and appears orthographically in different positions.

Glide Initial Medial Final
/j/ j i
/ɥ/ y ü —
/w/ w

In final position, glides are considered to be part of diphthongs (for example, /sai/ 塞). Meanwhile in medial position, glides often transform diphthongs into triphthongs (/sai/ 塞 vs. /swai/ 帥).

Finals

Standard Chinese is considered to possess six vowels, each with phonemic allophones depending on context.

Front Central Back
Close i y u
Mid e o
Open a

The following table displays the possible finals for the six vowels. In this analysis, the high vowels /i, u, y/ are fully phonemic and may form sequences with the nasal codas /m, n, ŋ/. As nucleuses, /u/ and /y/ are written as u and ü respectively.

Nucleus /a/ /o/ /e/ /i/ /u/ /y/
Coda ∅ /i/ /u/ /m/ /n/ /ŋ/ ∅ /ŋ/ ∅ /i/ /n/ /ŋ/ ∅ /n/ /ŋ/ ∅ /ŋ/ ∅ /n/
∅ a ai aw am an ang o ong e ei en eng i in ing u ung ü un
Medial /j/ ia iaw ian iang iong ie iw
/w/ wa wai wan wang wo wei wen weng wi
/ɥ/ ue uen

Tones

Standard Chinese has five tones, along with a neutral tone (sometimes classified as toneless).

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Diacritic ā á ã à ȧ a
Name 陰平 陽平 上 去 入 輕
Description Dark level Light level Rising Departing Entering Neutral
Contour /˥/ 55 /˩˧/ 13 /˨˩˨/ 212 /˧˩/ 31 /˥/ 5 —
MC 1 2 3 5 —
Example 巴 bā 麻 má 傻 sã 把 bà 札 zȧ 嗎 ma

Unlike more northern varieties of Mandarin, Standard Chinese preserves the entering tone (入, jù) found in southern varieties of Mandarin and southern Chinese languages like Cantonese. The entering tone is realized as a glottal stop /ʔ/.

Vocabulary

Main article: Table of Chinese characters

See also

Retrieved from "https://wiki.rosestulipsandliberty.com/wiki/Standard_Chinese?oldid=9535"