DOCSLIB.ORG

Reconstructing the Khitan Vowel System and Vowel Spelling Rule Through the Khitan Small Script

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Reconstructing the Khitan Vowel System and Vowel Spelling Rule Through the Khitan Small Script Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hung. Volume 70 (2), 189 – 206 (2017) DOI: 10.1556/062.2017.70.2.3 RECONSTRUCTING THE KHITAN VOWEL SYSTEM AND VOWEL SPELLING RULE THROUGH THE KHITAN SMALL SCRIPT MASAMI ŌTAKE Department of Linguistics, Graduate School of Letters, Kyōto University Yoshida-Hommachi, Sakyō-ku, Kyōto, 606-8501 Japan e-mail: [email protected] This paper reconstructs the Khitan vowel system by analysing materials concerning the Khitan Small Script. First, the approximate phonetic values of the graphemes were determined by system- atically comparing Khitan transcriptions of Chinese words with their original Chinese sounds and by analysing Khitan rhymes. Next, an exhaustive survey of two adjacent graphemes in a corpus elu- cidated the script’s spelling rule and thus were the accurate phonetic values determined. Finally, a com- parative study based on the reconstructed values established regular vowel correspondences between Khitan and Mongolian. In conclusion, the author presents twelve Khitan vowel phonemes that are distinguished by four vocalic features. Key words: Khitan language, Mongolic languages, Khitan script, vowel-overlapping phenomenon, primary long vowel, palatalised vowel, comparative linguistics, decipherment. 1. Introduction In deciphering the Khitan Small Script (henceforth KSS), some materials (such as the ones shown below) are available to determine the phonetic values of the graphemes of KSS: First, transcriptions of Chinese words in the KSS. Khitan inscriptions contain numerous Chinese words such as Chinese official titles and proper names. A system- atic comparison of the Khitan transcriptions of these Chinese words with their origi- nal Chinese sounds provides an important clue for determining the phonetic values of KSS. Second, transcriptions of Khitan words in Chinese characters. Some Chinese literatures like the Liaoshi 遼史 (the History of Liao) and contemporary entombed epi- taphs (muzhiming 墓誌銘) written in Chinese contain various Khitan words transcribed 0001-6446 / $ 20.00 © 2017 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest 190 MASAMI ŌTAKE in Chinese characters. Scholars have compared these Chinese transcriptions with the Khitan notations of the same words and have thereby reconstructed the phonetic values of the graphemes. Examples are given below:1 Chinese transcription KSS notation Kane (2009) Meaning 沙里 *ša.li 姐怨畏 ś-a-rí (a male title) 撻不也 *ta.bu.yä 可煙葦浬 t(e)-bu-ei-er (a person’s name) 捏褐 *nyä.xe 鴎頴 ń(i)-qo ‘dog’ Such reconstructions, however, are quite problematic, because Chinese has strong restrictions on phonotactics, especially on codas. As a result, the Chinese tran- scriptions may contain additional vowels to transcribe Khitan codas such as *l, *b, *x that are not allowed in Chinese. Chinese transcriptions therefore do not assure the accuracy of the reconstructed values. Third, cognates with the Mongolian languages. Scholars have also compared Khitan notations of Khitan words with their cognates in its family languages (i.e. the Mongolian languages) to reconstruct grapheme phonetic values. See the examples below: Middle Mongolian Modern Mongolian KSS notation Kane (2009) Meaning söni šɵn ~ sɵn 価尉 s-uni ‘night’ mori mör 窺俺 m-ri ‘horse’ basa bas 改疫 b-as ‘again, also’ e’ülen uul 椅学 eu-ul ‘cloud’ These reconstructions are also problematic in that they postulate both preser- vation and loss of short vowels in non-initial syllables in Khitan without considering sound changes. Since we do not know what changes Khitan has undergone, we cannot determine accurate values by comparing Khitan notations with their cognates. Forth, rhymes in Khitan inscriptions. Like Chinese ones, Khitan entombed epi- taphs have a section written in verse, which is introduced with a phrase equivalent to the Chinese “ming yue 銘曰” (‘The inscription says’). An analysis of rhyming words confirms which graphemes share the same or similar segments in phonetic values. Lastly, orthographic restrictions in the KSS. If a KSS spelling rule is eluci- dated, it may help determine the phonetic values of the graphemes. In this paper, I reconstructed the Khitan vowel system by analysing the KSS. As stated above, the second and the third source materials are somewhat problematic for the purpose of determining phonetic values. Hence, I determined the values by using exclusively the first, the fourth, and the last source materials. By using cognates, I then established regular vowel correspondences between Khitan and Mongolian. Based on this, I will reconstruct the Khitan vowel system as shown in Table 1. 1 Here the phonetic values reconstructed by previous studies are represented by Kane’s (2009). Acta Orient. Hung. 70, 2017 RECONSTRUCTING THE KHITAN VOWEL SYSTEM AND VOWEL SPELLING RULE 191 Table 1 Front Back Unrounded Rounded Unrounded Rounded Close i [i] ü [y] (ı [ɨ]) u [u ~ ʉ] Near-close ʊ [ʊ] Mid ë [e] ɵ̈ [ø] e [ə ~ ɤ] ɵ [o ~ ɵ] Open ä [ɛ] ö [œ] a [ɑ] o [ɔ] 2. Correspondence to Chinese Sounds First, we have no material on Northern Chinese during the Liao period (916–1125) to know its phonology systematically. I thus tentatively refer to Yuan Chinese pho- nology (13th–14th centuries) which is mainly reconstructed from the rhyme books Zhongyuan yinyun 中原音韻 (henceforth ZY) and the Menggu ziyun 蒙古字韻 (henceforth MZ).2 The results below ensue from comparing Khitan transcriptions of Chinese words with their Yuan Chinese forms. We found three types of graphemes: vowel graphemes, consonant + vowel graphemes, and vowel + consonant graphemes.3 It should be noted that comparisons with Chinese sounds only revealed the grapheme types and their ap- proximate phonetic values. 2.1. Vowel Graphemes Table 2 shows the vowel graphemes (V graphemes) that correspond to Yuan Chinese (M)Vs in (I)(M)V syllables or (I)(M)VE syllables (I = initial, M = medial, V = vowel, E = ending). I assumed that Khitan did not allow rising diphthongs like [i̯ a] and thus Chinese MVs were adapted for monophthongs in Khitan. This assumption is sup- ported by other evidence which will be presented in Section 4.2. 2 This paper employs the author’s notational system of ZY. Note that p, t, c, č, k represent aspirated [pʰ, tʰ, tsʰ, tʃʰ, kʰ] while b, d, z, ǰ, g represent unaspirated [p, t, ts, tʃ, k]; v, ž represent ap- proximants; ä, e, ı, o, ô, ü represent [ɛ, ə ~ ɤ, ɨ, ɔ, o, y]. Previous studies like Shen (2006, 2007) have shown that the phonological characteristics of Liao Chinese are similar to those of Yuan Chinese, although some archaic characteristics have been preserved. 3 Beside these three types, we also found consonant + vowel + consonant graphemes, e.g. 嫁 = 后 ZY *xew, 萎 = 皇 ZY *xwaŋ. Acta Orient. Hung. 70, 2017 192 MASAMI ŌTAKE Table 24 Grapheme ZY final Example ZY final Example 怨189 ‹aa› 家麻 *-a 窺怨 馬 *ma 寒山 *-an 怨葵 安 *an 監咸 *-am 価怨園 三 *sam 蓋335 ‹ää› 家麻 *-ya 碍蓋 家 *gya 寒山 *-yan 稼蓋緯 顔 *[ŋ]yan 監咸 *-yam 碍蓋華 監 *gyam 劃348 ‹ee› 歌戈 *-e 碍劃 哥 *ge 劾327 ‹ëë› 車遮 *-yä 歌劾 姐 *zyä 先天 *-yän 葦劾緯 延 *yän 廉纖 *-yäm 碍劾華 檢 *gyäm 奄186 ‹oo› 歌戈 *-wô 歌奄 左 *zwô 桓歡 *-won 珂奄叡 亂 *lwon 亥082 ‹öö› 先天 *-ɥän 稼亥階 元 *[ŋ]ɥän 沖226 ‹ɵ̈ ɵ̈ › 先天 *-ɥän 稼沖家 元 *[ŋ]ɥän 鵜131 ‹uu› 魚模 *-u 家鵜 奴 *nu 佳245 ‹ʊʊ› 魚模 *-u 歌佳 祖 *zu 賀289 ‹üü› 魚模 *-ü 賀 禹 *ü 鎧339 ‹ii› 齊微 *-i 鎧 夷 *i 殻353 ‹ıı› 支思 *-ı 歌殻 子 *zı 2.2. Consonant + Vowel Graphemes Table 3 shows the consonant + vowel graphemes (CV graphemes) that correspond to Yuan Chinese I(M)Vs in I(M)V syllables or I(M)VE syllables. Table 3 Group Grapheme ZY form Group Grapheme ZY form ‹Caa› 曳160 ‹baa› 曳 八 *ba ‹Cuu› 化241 ‹puu› 化 府 *fu 橿375 ‹čaa› 橿 察 *ča 赫358 ‹muu› 赫 墓 *mu 娃003 ‹xʷaa› 娃 化 *xwa 苑202 ‹tuu› 苑 徒 *tu 屋葵 檀 *tan 恩237 ‹duu› 恩 都 *du 屋229 ‹taa› 屋艶 唐 *taŋ 於208 ‹luu› 於 盧 *lu 応214 ‹daa› 応右 大 *day 桶233 ‹kuu› 桶 哭 *ku 嘘139 ‹naa› 嘘園 男 *nam 粟036 ‹xuu› 粟 虎 *xu 運150 ‹ǰaa› 運艶 章 *ǰaŋ 閏147 ‹ǰuu› 閏垣 中 *ǰuŋʷ 依053 ‹xaa› 依葵 韓 *xan 謁178 ‹kuu› 謁垣 孔 *kuŋʷ ‹Cää› 卯130 ‹xää› 卯 下 *xya ‹Cii› 岡225 ‹bii› 岡 畢 *bi ‹Cee› 峨283 ‹kee› 峨 可 *ke 袷037 ‹tii› 袷 帝 *di ‹Coo› 握017 ‹doo› 握 多 *dwô 一087 ‹ǰii› 一 知 *ǰi 委057 ‹xoo› 委 和 *xwô ‹Cıı› 域083 ‹sıı› 域 司 *sı 奥213 ‹too› 奥叡 團 *twon 恰––– ‹ǰıı› 恰 旨 *ǰı 回298 ‹soo› 回叡 攅 *cwon 閲180 ‹šıı› 閲 使 *šı 4 The subscript number after a KSS grapheme indicates the grapheme number assigned by Qingge’ertai et al. (1985). The value in angle brackets ‹ › refers to the phonetic value that is ulti- mately proposed in this paper. Acta Orient. Hung. 70, 2017 RECONSTRUCTING THE KHITAN VOWEL SYSTEM AND VOWEL SPELLING RULE 193 2.3. Vowel + Consonant Graphemes Table 4 shows the vowel + consonant graphemes (VC graphemes) that correspond to Yuan Chinese (M)VEs in (I)(M)VE syllables. We also found other VC graphemes which correspond to Middle Chinese (M)VEs in rusheng 入聲 syllables (see Table 5).5 Note that Khitan inscriptions reflect two Chinese varieties in respect of rusheng syllables: one preserved Middle Chinese rusheng codas *-p, *-t, *-k, *-kʷ as -b, -r, -g, -gʷ and the other lost them like Yuan Chinese. These two varieties are used together in inscrip- tions. Table 4 Grapheme ZY final Example Grapheme ZY final Example 右122 ‹ay› 皆來 *-ay 骸右 開 *kay 栄161 ‹aw› 蕭豪 *-aw 碍栄 高 *gaw 燕197 ‹äy› 皆來 *-yay 骸燕 客 *kyay 閣362 ‹äw› 蕭豪 *-yaw 碍閣 校 *gyaw 胤107 ‹oy› 皆來 *-way 姐胤 帥 *šway 蕭豪 *-yäw 価閣 小 *syäw 葦020 ‹ey› 齊微 *-ey 暇葦 德 *dey 椅067 ‹ew› 尤侯 *-ew 碍椅 狗 *gew 禍262 ‹uy› 齊微 *-uĕy 家禍 內 *nuĕy 旭019 ‹ëw› 尤侯 *-iĕw 珂旭 留 *liĕw 葵011 ‹an› 寒山 *-an 怨葵 安 *an 園184 ‹am› 監咸 *-am 嘘園 男 *nam 緯073 ‹än› 寒山 *-yan 稼蓋緯 顔 *[ŋ]yan 華270 ‹äm› 監咸 *-yam 碍蓋華 監 *gyam 先天 *-yän 葦劾緯 延 *yän 廉纖 *-yäm 碍華 檢 *gyäm 階324 ‹ön› 先天 *-ɥän 価亥階 宣 *sɥän 架257 ‹em› 侵尋 *-em 姐架 瀋 *šiĕm 家251 ‹een› 先天 *-ɥän 沖家 院 *ɥän 窺133 ‹im› 侵尋 *-iĕm 碍窺 金 *giĕm 6 桓歡 *-won 皆家 觀 *gwon 維072 ‹üm› 真文 *-iĕn 会維 品 *piĕn 叡154 ‹on› 桓歡 *-won 奥叡 團 *twon 艶199 ‹aŋ› 江陽 *-aŋ 珂艶 郎 *laŋ 唄140 ‹en› 真文 *-en 窺唄 門 *muĕn 晦314 ‹äŋ› 江陽 *-yaŋ 歌晦 將 *zyaŋ 渥018 ‹in› 真文 *-iĕn 歌渥 進 *ziĕn 移071 ‹oŋ› 江陽 *-waŋ 碍移 廣 *gwaŋ 課273 ‹un› 真文 *-uĕn 暇課 敦 *duĕn 意062 ‹ëŋ› 庚青 *-eŋ 姐意 省 *šeŋ 7 咳329 ‹ün› 真文 *-üĕn 碍咳 軍 *güĕn 庚青 *-iĕŋ 碍意 耿 *giĕŋ 垣345 ‹uŋʷ› 東鍾 *-uŋʷ 碍垣 公 *guŋʷ 稼264 ‹eŋ› 庚青 *-eŋ 価稼 僧 *seŋ 角357 ‹ʊŋʷ› 東鍾 *-uŋʷ 歌角 宗 *zuŋʷ 快303 ‹iŋ› 庚青 *-iĕŋ 骸快 興 *xiĕŋ 榎181 ‹üŋʷ› 東鍾 *-üŋʷ 珂榎 龍 *lüŋʷ 5 This paper uses the author’s notational system of Late Middle Chinese (LMC).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Characteristics of Chinese Poetic-Musical Creations
    Characteristics of Chinese Poetic-Musical Creations Yan GENG1 Abstract: The present study intoduces a series of characteristics related to Chinese poetry. It shows that, together with rhythmical structure and intonation (which has a crucial role in conveying meaning), an additional, fundamental aspect of Chinese poetry lies in the latent, pictorial effect of the writing. Various genres and forms of Chinese poetry are touched upon, as well as a series of figures of speech, themes (nature, love, sadness, mythology etc.) and symbols (particularly of vegetal and animal origin), which are frequently encountered in the poems. Key-words: rhythm, intonation, system of tones, rhyme, system of writing, figures of speech 1. Introduction In his Advanced Music Theory course, &RQVWDQWLQ 5kSă VKRZV WKDW ³we can differentiate between two levels of the phenomenon of rhythm: the first, a general philosophical one, meaning, within the context of music, the ensemble of movements perceived, thus the macrostructural level; the second, the micro-VWUXFWXUH ZKHUH UK\WKP PHDQV GXUDWLRQV « LQWHQVLWLHVDQGWHPSR « 0RUHRYHUZHFDQVD\WKDWUK\WKPGRHVQRWH[LVWEXWUDWKHUMXVW the succession of sounds in time [does].´2 Studies on rhythm, carried out by ethno- musicology researchers, can guide us to its genesis. A first fact that these studies point towards is the indissoluble unity of the birth process of artistic creation: poetry, music (rhythm-melody) and dance, which manifested syncretically for a very lengthy period of time. These aspects are not singular or characteristic for just one culture, as it appears that they have manifested everywhere from the very beginning of mankind. There is proof both in Chinese culture, as well as in ancient Romanian culture, that certifies the existence of a syncretic development of the arts and language.
    [Show full text]
  • Research on the Time When Ping Split Into Yin and Yang in Chinese Northern Dialect
    Chinese Studies 2014. Vol.3, No.1, 19-23 Published Online February 2014 in SciRes (http://www.scirp.org/journal/chnstd) http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/chnstd.2014.31005 Research on the Time When Ping Split into Yin and Yang in Chinese Northern Dialect Ma Chuandong1*, Tan Lunhua2 1College of Fundamental Education, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China 2Sichuan Science and Technology University for Employees, Chengdu, China Email: *[email protected] Received January 7th, 2014; revised February 8th, 2014; accepted February 18th, 2014 Copyright © 2014 Ma Chuandong, Tan Lunhua. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. In accordance of the Creative Commons Attribution License all Copyrights © 2014 are reserved for SCIRP and the owner of the intellectual property Ma Chuandong, Tan Lun- hua. All Copyright © 2014 are guarded by law and by SCIRP as a guardian. The phonetic phenomenon “ping split into yin and yang” 平分阴阳 is one of the most important changes of Chinese tones in the early modern Chinese, which is reflected clearly in Zhongyuan Yinyun 中原音韵 by Zhou Deqing 周德清 (1277-1356) in the Yuan Dynasty. The authors of this paper think the phe- nomenon “ping split into yin and yang” should not have occurred so late as in the Yuan Dynasty, based on previous research results and modern Chinese dialects, making use of historical comparative method and rhyming books. The changes of tones have close relationship with the voiced and voiceless initials in Chinese, and the voiced initials have turned into voiceless in Song Dynasty, so it could not be in the Yuan Dynasty that ping split into yin and yang, but no later than the Song Dynasty.
    [Show full text]
  • The Road to Literary Culture: Revisiting the Jurchen Language Examination System*
    T’OUNG PAO 130 T’oung PaoXin 101-1-3 Wen (2015) 130-167 www.brill.com/tpao The Road to Literary Culture: Revisiting the Jurchen Language Examination System* Xin Wen (Harvard University) Abstract This essay contextualizes the unique institution of the Jurchen language examination system in the creation of a new literary culture in the Jin dynasty (1115–1234). Unlike the civil examinations in Chinese, which rested on a well-established classical canon, the Jurchen language examinations developed in close connection with the establishment of a Jurchen school system and the formation of a literary canon in the Jurchen language and scripts. In addition to being an official selection mechanism, the Jurchen examinations were more importantly part of a literary endeavor toward a cultural ideal. Through complementing transmitted Chinese sources with epigraphic sources in Jurchen, this essay questions the conventional view of this institution as a “Jurchenization” measure, and proposes that what the Jurchen emperors and officials envisioned was a road leading not to Jurchenization, but to a distinctively hybrid literary culture. Résumé Cet article replace l’institution unique des examens en langue Jurchen dans le contexte de la création d’une nouvelle culture littéraire sous la dynastie des Jin (1115–1234). Contrairement aux examens civils en chinois, qui s’appuyaient sur un canon classique bien établi, les examens en Jurchen se sont développés en rapport étroit avec la mise en place d’un système d’écoles Jurchen et avec la formation d’un canon littéraire en langue et en écriture Jurchen. En plus de servir à la sélection des fonctionnaires, et de façon plus importante, les examens en Jurchen s’inscrivaient * This article originated from Professor Peter Bol’s seminar at Harvard University.
    [Show full text]
  • Alexander Vovin 1 Curriculum Vitae for Alexander Vovin
    Alexander Vovin Curriculum Vitae for Alexander Vovin ADDRESSES home address: work address: 1, rue de Jean-François Lépine EHESS-CRLAO 75018 Paris FRANCE 131, bd Saint-Michel 75005 Paris, FRANCE [email protected] [email protected] PERSONAL DATA Born 01/27/1961 in St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad), Russia US citizen, married (spouse: Sambi Ishisaki Vovin (石崎（ボビン）賛美), two children EDUCATION Leningrad State U. "Kandidat filologicheskikh nauk"(=Ph.D.) 10/29/87 Dissertation: The Language of the Japanese prose of the second half of the XI Century. 189 pp. In Russian. Leningrad State U. "Vysshee Obrazovanie" (=MA) June, 1983 Philological Faculty, Department of Structural and Applied Linguistics. Thesis: The Dictionary Bongo zōmyō (『梵語雑名』) as a Source for the Description of some Peculiarities of the Phonetics of Early 18th Century Japanese. 73 pp. In Russian. EMPLOYMENT 01/01/2014 Directeur d’études, linguistique historique du Japon et de l’Asie du Nord- present Est, EHESS/CRLAO, Paris, France 08/01/2003 - Professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures, Department of 01/10/2014 East Asian Languages and Literatures, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, USA 08/01/1997- Associate Professor of Japanese, Department of 07/31/2003 East Asian Languages and Literatures, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, USA 08/01/1995- Assistant Professor of Japanese, Department of 07/31/1997 East Asian Languages and Literatures, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, USA 08/01/1994- Assistant Professor of Japanese, Department of 07/31/1995 German, Russian, and East Asian Languages, Miami University, USA 9/1/1990 - Assistant Professor of Japanese Language & 06/30/1994 Linguistics, Department of Asian Languages & Cultures, University of Michigan, USA 1 Alexander Vovin 6/1/1990 - Visiting Lecturer in Japanese, Department of Asian Languages 8/31/1990 & Cultures, University of Michigan, USA 3/1/1989 - Junior Scientific Researcher, Far East Sector, May, 1990 Japanese Group, Inst.
    [Show full text]
  • The Fundamentals of Chinese Historical Phonology
    ChinHistPhon – MA 1st yr Basics/ 1 Bartos The fundamentals of Chinese historical phonology 1. Old Mandarin (early modern Chinese; 14th c.) − 中原音韵 Zhongyuan Yinyun “Rhymes of the Central Plain”, written in 1324 by 周德清 Zhou Deqing: A pronunciation guide for writers and performers of 北曲 beiqu-verse in vernacular plays. − Arrangement: o 19 rhyme categories, each named with two characters, e.g. 真文, 江阳, 先天, 鱼模. o Within each rhyme category, words are divided according to tone category: 平声阴 平声阳 上声 去声 入声作 X 声 o Within each tone, words are divided into homophone groups separated by circles. o An appendix lists pairs of characters whose pronunciation is frequently confused, e.g.: 死有史 米有美 因有英 The 19 Zhongyuan Yinyun rhyme categories: Old Mandarin tones: The tone categories were the same as for modern standard Mandarin, except: − The former 入-tone words joined the other tone categories in a more regular fashion. ChinHistPhon – MA 1st yr Basics/ 2 Bartos 2. The reconstruction of the Middle Chinese sound system 2.1. Main sources 2.1.1. Primary – rhyme dictionaries, rhyme tables (Qieyun 切韵, Guangyun 广韵, …, Jiyun 集韵, Yunjing 韵镜, Qiyinlüe 七音略) – a comparison of modern Chinese dialects – shape of Chinese loanwords in ’sinoxenic’ languages (Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese) 2.1.2. Secondary – use of poetic devices (rhyming words, metric (= tonal patterns)) – transcriptions: - contemporary alphabetic transcription of Chinese names/words, e.g. Brahmi, Tibetan, … - contemporary Chinese transcription of foreign words/names of known origin ChinHistPhon – MA 1st yr Basics/ 3 Bartos – the content problem of the Qieyun: Is it some ‘reconstructed’ pre-Tang variety, or the language of the capital (Chang’an 长安), or a newly created norm, based on certain ‘compromises’? – the classic problem of ‘time-span’: Qieyun: 601 … Yunjing: 1161 → Pulleyblank: the Qieyun and the rhyme tables ( 等韵图) reflect different varieties (both geographically, and diachronically) → Early vs.
    [Show full text]
  • Section 18.1, Han
    The Unicode® Standard Version 13.0 – Core Specification To learn about the latest version of the Unicode Standard, see http://www.unicode.org/versions/latest/. Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and the publisher was aware of a trade- mark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters or in all capitals. Unicode and the Unicode Logo are registered trademarks of Unicode, Inc., in the United States and other countries. The authors and publisher have taken care in the preparation of this specification, but make no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of the use of the information or programs contained herein. The Unicode Character Database and other files are provided as-is by Unicode, Inc. No claims are made as to fitness for any particular purpose. No warranties of any kind are expressed or implied. The recipient agrees to determine applicability of information provided. © 2020 Unicode, Inc. All rights reserved. This publication is protected by copyright, and permission must be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction. For information regarding permissions, inquire at http://www.unicode.org/reporting.html. For information about the Unicode terms of use, please see http://www.unicode.org/copyright.html. The Unicode Standard / the Unicode Consortium; edited by the Unicode Consortium. — Version 13.0. Includes index. ISBN 978-1-936213-26-9 (http://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode13.0.0/) 1.
    [Show full text]
  • On the Terms Concerning Longevity in Khitan and Jurchen Languages1
    John Tang Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu On the Terms Concerning Longevity in Khitan and Jurchen Languages1 Longevity is one of the predominant motifs in Chinese culture. The typical character for the word is 壽shòu, although it can also be represented by other expressions such as 萬歲wànsuì. The concept has had a deep influence on the neighboring Altaic peoples. The earliest native Altaic writing system to date—Khitan script—includes many mentions of longevity (either in Khitan documentation or in Chinese transliteration), as well as in the Jurchen writing system. 1. “Longevity” Recorded in Khitan Scripts The extant Khitan writing system includes two different types of scripts, both of which are Siniform (that is, the form of their characters are based on Chinese): the so-called Khitan macroscript (大字dàzì, literally “Large Script”) and the Khitan microscript (小字xiăozì, literally “Small Script”). The former style of writing is logo-syllabic, similar to Chinese logography; the latter is logo-phonetic, derived from the Uighur abjad spelling system, in which single components are called protoscript (原字yuánzì, literally “Primitive Script”). Although in Khitan scripts more undeciphered documentations exist than deciphered ones, native record- ings concerning longevity can be found in the Khitan writing systems. First of all, reign titles are recorded uniquely in two Khitan scripts. One of the Khitan-Liao reign titles refers directly to the concept of longevity as “Lon- gevity Prosperity” (壽昌Shòuchāng, 1095–1100).2 In the extant Khitan macro- script (Kma.) records, this reign title is written as (Liu 1998a: 221; EYQ 25, Liu 2006: 60). In the extant Khitan microscript (Kmi.) records, this reign title is written as (Chinggeltei 2002: 142–143) or (Chinggeltei 2002: 163).
    [Show full text]
  • EALC 736 Historiography of the Mongol Yuan Empire Thursday 3
    EALC 736 Historiography of the Mongol Yuan Empire Thursday 3-6, Williams Hall #438 Office Hours: M, 1-2 and by appointment Syllabus (preliminary; more to come) The aim of this course is to introduce graduate students to the peculiarities of sources relating to the Mongol Yuan empire (and believe me, they are very peculiar). To handle these sources we will 1) acquire background knowledge about the period and the major historical events; 2) survey the range of the multi-lingual traditions and genres represented with some consideration of the strengths and weaknesses; 3) learn about methods of textual, analytical, and redactional criticism that are often more used in West and Central Asian historiographies; 4) practice reading inscriptions and legal texts in the very odd literal translation from Mongolian to Chinese current in the Yuan dynasty. Upon completion, students will be able to use the wide range of sources available on the Mongol Yuan empire to conduct original research on major topics. Languages: The Mongol empire was extraordinarily multi-lingual, and important sources cover a wide range of materials. While ability to read classical and modern Chinese is generally expected, there is enough available in translation to allow interested students with other language competencies (Persian first and foremost, also Mongolian, Tibetan, Armenian, Romance languages, etc.) to do great work. I welcome students with reading abilities in these languages to consider the class, and will work with them to craft an alternative syllabus that works for them. Weekly Assignments: In addition to preparing the readings for discuss, students will be reQuired to perform a kaozheng task set by the instructor (these will be adjusted for the language competency of the students).
    [Show full text]
  • INFORMATION to USERS the Most Advanced Technology Has Been Used to Photo­ Graph and Reproduce This Manuscript from the Microfilm Master
    INFORMATION TO USERS The most advanced technology has been used to photo­ graph and reproduce this manuscript from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are re­ produced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. These are also available as one exposure on a standard 35mm slide or as a 17" x 23" black and white photographic print for an additional charge. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9 ’ black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI University Microfilms International A Bell & Howell Information C om pany 300 North ZaeD Road.
    [Show full text]
  • Language Intelligibility As a Constraint on Phonological Change
    Dialect Variations in Chinese, 81-95 Papers from the Third International Conference on Sinology, Linguistics Section 2002-4-001-002-000032-2 Language Intelligibility as a Constraint on Phonological Change Chin-Chuan Cheng City University of Hong Kong Languages Change all the time. But communication across living generations does not break down. On-going phonological changes in Chinese dialects were examined. The highest number of changes involved only six types. Moreover, in terms of phonology the maximal loss of mutual intelligibility index across living generations in about 100 years was 0.08. As an exercise of the predictive power of the constraint on phonological change for maintaining mutual intelligibility, this level of loss was compared with the calculated mutual intelligibility between the sound system of the Zhongyuan Yinyun of the 14th century and that of modern Beijing. The idea of the mutual intelligibility constraint can be utilized to evaluate historical reconstructions. Lu Fayan (601) in Qieyun pioneered the Chinese phonological analysis for the ensuing millennium and a half. Within this tradition, sounds are analyzed in terms of the structure of the syllable consisting of initial, final, and tone. This tradition has provided useful constructs for research on historical evolution and dialect grouping. Modern linguistics in general also has a focus on structure, attempting to uncover the rules and conditions that interact to make up the language. We propose to do linguistics with a different concern. The Chinese language has a long recorded history. We can study the underlying principles that both allow and constrain historical changes. An underlying principle has to do with the maintenance of language intelligibility from one generation to another.
    [Show full text]
  • The Plural Forms of Personal Pronouns in Modern Chinese Baoying Qiu University of Massachusetts Amherst
    University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 2013 The plural forms of personal pronouns in Modern Chinese Baoying Qiu University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses Part of the Chinese Studies Commons Qiu, Baoying, "The lurp al forms of personal pronouns in Modern Chinese" (2013). Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014. 1150. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/1150 This thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE PLURAL FORMS OF PERSONAL PRONOUNS IN MODERN CHINESE A Dissertation Presented By BAOYING QIU Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in partial fulfillment Of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS September 2013 Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures Asian Languages & Literatures © Copyright by Baoying Qiu 2013 All Rights Reserved The Plural Forms of Personal Pronouns in Modern Chinese A Dissertation Presented By BAOYING QIU Approved as to style and content by: _________________________________ Zhongwei Shen, Chair __________________________________ David K. Schneider, Member __________________________________ Elena Suet-Ying Chiu, Member _________________________________ Amanda C. Seaman, Director Asian
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 43 the Homelands of the Individual Transeurasian Proto
    This is a draft version of a chapter that appears in Robbeets, M and A. Savelyev (eds). The Oxford Guide to the Transeurasian Languages (OUP, 2020)' see https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-guide-to-the- transeurasian-languages-9780198804628. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Research Council under the Horizon 2020 Program/ ERC Grant Agreement n. 646612 granted to Martine Robbeets. Chapter 43 The homelands of the individual Transeurasian proto-languages Martine Robbeets, Juha Janhunen, Alexander Savelyev and Evgeniya Korovina Abstract This chapter is an attempt to identify the individual homelands of the five families making up the Transeurasian grouping, i.e. the Turkic, Mongolic, Tungusic, Koreanic and Japonic families. Combining various linguistic methods and principles such as the diversity hotspot principle, phylolinguistics, cultural reconstruction and contact linguistics, we try to determine the original location and time depth of the families under discussion. We further propose that the individual speech communities were originally familiar with millet agriculture, while terms for pastoralism or wet- rice agriculture entered their vocabularies only at a later stage. Keywords: Japonic, Koreanic, Tungusic, Mongolic, Turkic, Transeurasian, homeland, time depth, agriculture, cultural reconstruction, contact linguistics 43.1 Introduction The aim of this chapter is to estimate the location and time depth of the individual families that make up the Transeurasian grouping and to suggest evidence for the presence of agricultural vocabulary in each of the proto-languages. In the present context, farming or agriculture is understood in its restricted sense of economic dependence on the cultivation of crops and does not necessarily include the raising of animals as livestock.
    [Show full text]