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IALP 2020, Kuala Lumpur, Dec 4-6, 2020

The Survey on the Distribution of MC Fei and Xiao Initial Groups in Chinese

Yan Li Xiaochuan Song School of Foreign Languages, School of Foreign Languages, Normal University, Shaanxi Normal University Xi’an, / Agricultural University e-mail: [email protected] Xi’an/Zhengzhou, China e-mail:[email protected]

Abstract — MC Fei 非 and Xiao 晓 initial group discussed in this paper includes Fei 非, Fu groups are always mixed together in the southern 敷 and Feng 奉 initials, but does not include Wei part of China. It can be divided into four sections 微, while MC Xiao 晓 initial group includes according to the distribution: the northern area, the Xiao 晓 and Xia 匣 initials. The third and fourth southwestern area, the southern area, the class of Xiao 晓 initial group have almost southeastern area. The mixing is very simple in the palatalized as [ɕ] which doesn’t mix with Fei northern area, while in it is the most initial group. This paper mainly discusses the first extensive and complex. The southern area only and the second class of Xiao and Xia initials. The includes and where ethnic mixing of Fei and Xiao initials is a relatively minorities gather, and the mixing is very recent phonetic change, which has no direct complicated. Ancient languages are preserved in the inheritance with the phonological system of southeastern area where there are still bilabial Qieyun. The mixing mainly occurs in the southern sounds and initial [h], but the mixing is part of the mainland of China. It is not only in simple. There are two different evolution processes Mandarin-speaking areas, but also in various of Fei initial group diverging from Bang 帮 initial areas. It covers a wide range of China, group, one is evolving from [p], [b] to [pf], then [f]; including Sichuan, , Shaanxi, , the other is from [fu] to [] [1]. This could be easy , Hunan, , Guangxi, , to explain why MC Fei 非 initial group is read as , and so on. [x] in some Chinese dialects. Immigration is also one Many scholars have discussed the mixing of of the important reasons. Fei and Xiao initial groups. The most famous Key — MC Fei 非 initial group; MC ones are Li Lan[2] and He Da’an [3]. The focus Xiao 晓 initial group; mixing; Chinese dialects of discussion is on the types and causes of mixing. I. INTRODUCTION Zhuang Chusheng [4][5] studied how MC Xiao initial group evolved into [f] in southern dialects. On March 15, 2019, an article was published However, up to now, no one has ever surveyed the in Science, which holds that the formation time of distribution of Fei and Xiao initial groups in all labiodental [f], [v] is very short, which is mainly Chinese dialects and there is no consensus in the caused by the change of human diet structure. academic circle on the reasons of mixing. Due to the development of agriculture, the hard food in modern human diet gradually decreased, II. THE CURRENT SITUATION OF MIXING OF FEI which led to the change of the occlusal 非 AND XIAO 晓 INITIAL GROUPS relationship between upper and lower teeth, The mixing of Fei and Xiao initial groups is resulting in labiodental sounds. This is also a mainly concentrated in the southern part of China. good explanation for the phenomenon that there It is bordered by Shaanxi, , Henan, was no labiodental sound in ancient Chinese. and . In this large area, the more Then why do some places in China have [f] northward, the simpler the mixing is; the more initials and some places have [x] initials instead southward, the more complex it becomes, of [f] initials? This is involved in the evolution of especially in Sichuan, Hunan, Guangxi and other MC Fei and Xiao initial groups. MC Fei initial places. But if we continue to go south and

978-1-7281-7689-5/20/$31.00 c 2020 IEEE 326 southeast, it becomes simpler again, such as Xinpang of in the Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangdong, , eastern and southeastern part, especially in and other places due to the barrier of high , and , and the mountains and sea. mixing in Xinyang is the most complicated. There are about two kinds, one is that all of the third A. The Mixing in the Northern Area is Relatively class of Hekou (合口) in MC Xiao 晓 initial Simple group are merged into Fei 非 initial group which The north here refers to Shaanxi, Shanxi, are pronounced as [f]. This case mainly occurs in Henan, Anhui and Jiangsu. In this area, the Xinpang district of Central Plains Mandarin. The mixing of Fei and Xiao initial groups only exist other is that all of the third class of Hekou (合口) in a few places, e.g., only and in MC Xiao 晓 initial group changed into Kaikou in Shaanxi, Lvliang and in Shanxi, (开口) and the initials are pronounced as [f], Xinyang in Henan, the surrounding areas of while the Kaikou (开口) in Fei 非 initial group and Changfeng in , Anhui. In changed into Hekou (合口) and the initials are Jiangsu it mainly appears in the border area of pronounced as [x]. This phenomenon is called Central Plains Mandarin and Jianghuai Mandarin phonetic interchangeability which only occurs in in Northern Jiangsu. In the above-mentioned Shangshui dialect of Luoxiang district of Central places there doesn’t appear large-scale mixing of Plains Mandarin. Fei and Xiao initial groups. E.g., the mixing of The mixing is very special in three places of Fei and Xiao initial groups in Shaanxi Province Henan. The first case is Xi dialect in mainly appears in Hanzhong and Ankang, near Xinyang where there is not only an evolution Chongqing and Sichuan. There are two cases of from Xiao 晓 initial group to Fei 非 initial group, mixing, one is that all of Fei initial group merge but also an evolution from Fei 非 initial group to into Xiao initial group, where there is no initial Xiao 晓 initial group. The co-existence of the two consonant [f], such as Hanyin dialect and evolutions in the case of the Xi County may be Zhenping dialect in Ankang. The other is Xiao due to the earlier evolution from Xiao 晓 initial initial group merged into Fei initial group before group to Fei 非 initial group. As for the evolution simple final [u] and is read as [f], e.g., Zhenba from Fei 非 initial group to Xiao 晓 initial group, dialect in Hanzhong, dialect and Langao it may be a kind of external influence[8]. The dialect in Ankang. second one is Shangshui dialect in Zhoukou And the mixing of Fei and Xiao initial groups whose Fei 非 initial and Xiao 晓, Xia 匣 initials in Shanxi dialect mainly occurs in the central part show a kind of sound interchangeability in front of Bingzhou and the western part of Lvliang of of Hekou (合口). MC Xiao 晓, Xia 匣 initials in Jin dialects. In Lvliang, the mixing of Fei and front of Hekou (合口) are read as [f] instead of Xiao initial groups is everywhere, like Fangshan, [x], while MC Fei 非, Fu 敷, Feng 奉 initials in Xing County, Shilou, Wenshui, Jiaocheng, front of the third class of Hekou ( 合口) are , and the mixing in Jinzhong is pronounced as [x] instead of [f]. Fei 非 initials are concentrated in the west close to Lvliang, that is, read as [x], while Xiao 晓 initials as [f]. This kind , County and other places where Fei of is different from chain shift 非, Fu 敷 and Feng 奉 initials are pronounced sound change [9]. The third case is Shang City in as [x] and the finals also become corresponding the south of Xinyang where its dialects are quite Hekouhu(合口呼), e.g., “发(give out)” is read as different between south and north while Xiao 晓 [xuaʔ2] in Jiao City, [xuAʔ13] in Pinyao, [xuαʔ22] initial is pronounced as [f] in the south, and in the in Qi County, [xuaʔ2] in Xiaoyi, [faʔ2] in . central part, [f] and [x] are not mixed, but to the According to Cui Nana[6], at the beginning of the north, Fei 非 initial is pronounced as [x][10]. 20th century, Fei 非, Fu 敷 and Feng 奉 initials In Anhui, the mixing is very few. The cases are pronounced as [f], and later they are combined of mixing mainly concentrate on the areas of with Xiao 晓 and Xia 匣 initials which are Central Plains Mandarin in , which pronounced as [x] in the Xing County dialect of includes the surrounding areas of Huainan City, Lvliang. In the dialect of Western Shanxi where that is, Huainan City and Fengtai to the West, Xing County is located, there is no initial [f] in and Huoqiu in Liu’an, Meng City the dialects of Lishi, Fangshan, Zhongyang, (part of it) in , Funan (in the areas of Shilou, Xi County, Yonghe and other counties. Fangji) in , Changfeng in Hefei in The same is Wenshui County, but [f] and [x] are Jianghuai Mandarin Area and other places. In not mixed in Xicaotou dialect, the southernmost these places, Fei 非 initial is pronounced as part of the county [7]. guttural [h] or velar fricative [x][11]. The mixing in Henan mainly occurs in

2020 International Conference on Asian Language Processing (IALP) 327 In most of Jiangsu Province, Fei initial group The southwest region here mainly refers to and Xiao initial group are not mixed. The mixing Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, Yunnan, Guizhou mainly occurs in the bordering area of Central and other places. In this area, the mixing is Plains Mandarin and Jianghuai Mandarin in the complicated. The situation in Sichuan is more north of Jiangsu. In the south, Fei, Fu, Feng complicated than in other provinces. This is initials are pronounced as [x], Xiao initials before because Sichuan has gone through many Hekou (合口) like Guo She (果摄)and Yu She (遇 vicissitudes, including the war of the Song and Jin 摄) are read as [f], and also as an independent Dynasties, the peasant uprising at the end of [f̩ ]. This case only appears in Huaqiao Dynasty, the chaos in the early Qing Dynasty and Town dialect in Kunshan. In Taizhou, Taixing, Tai the plague and disasters, which led to the near County, Rugao, Rudong, Hai'an, Dongtai, extinction of Sichuan's population. Today's Dafeng, Yangzhong and other places in the Sichuanese are, in all likelihood, the descendants middle and east of Jiangsu, Xia initial group is of immigrants from Huguang. According to pronounced as [f] before [u][12]. In the bordering Sichuan Tongzhi, since the Han and Tang area of Central Plains Mandarin and Jianghuai Dynasties, there were more and more people in Mandarin in the north of Jiangsu Province, the Sichuan. But after the war at the end of the Ming pronunciation of Fei, Fu, Feng initials began to Dynasty, population was as thin as a morning star. change from [f] to [x]. In the narrow strip of “Huguang fills Sichuan” in Qing Dynasty was a which contains [x] and [f/x], the dialects at two necessity. According to textual research, ends evolve fastest, such as the dialects of Guiren immigrants were from Hubei, Jiangxi, Fujian, in Sihong, Yang River in Suqian, Zhongxin in Guangxi and more than a dozen provinces. Siyang, Sidui in Guanyun, whose Fei, Fu, Feng Taking as an example, The General initials are all pronounced as [x]. The more Survey of Chengdu at the end of the Qing Dynasty middle, the slower it evolves, e.g., in Dingzui once recorded that “today’s Chengdu people are dialect of Suyu, Fei, Fu, Feng initials before five all from other provinces”. Among them, Hubei She (摄) which includes Yu 遇, Xie 蟹, Zhi 止, Liu 15%, Hunan 10%, Henan and 5%, 流, Zhen 臻 and Rusheng (入声) in Dang She (宕 Shaanxi 10%, Yunnan and Guizhou 15%, Jiangxi 摄) and Tong She(通摄) are all read as [x], in 15%, Anhui 5%, Jiangsu and Zhejiang 10%, Yishan dialect of Guanyun, Fei, Fu, Feng initials Guangdong and Guangxi 10%, Fujian, Shanxi before five She which includes Yu, Xie, Zhi, Liu, and 5%. Immigrants from all the other Zhen and Rusheng in Xian She( 仙摄), Shan places brought their dialects, resulting in the She(山摄), Tong She (通摄)are all pronounced as pronunciation of Sichuan mixed, [x]. In Mu City and Zhouji dialects of Muyang, correspondingly, the mixing of Fei and Xiao only Fei, Fu, Feng initials before Yu She(遇摄) initial group is more complex. The mixing of Fei and Liu She (流摄) are pronounced as [x]. All of and Xiao initial groups can be roughly divided Fei, Fu, Feng initials in Yuelai dialect of Muyang into four kinds: are read as [x], which evolve faster than the other The 1st kind: Fei and Xiao initial groups get dialects of Muyang [13]. mixed up with each other. From the above discussion, it can be seen that, 1) Xiao 晓 and Xia 匣 initials enter into Fei except Henan, the mixing of Fei initial group and initial group, it can be further divided: Xiao initial group in other places is relatively simple. For example, in Shaanxi, either all the Fei a) MC Xiao and Xia initials are read as [f] initials are read as [x], or Xiao, Xia initials are before [u], which is very common in Sichuan read as [f] before [u]. In Anhui, there only exists dialect. For example, Chengdu City dialect, Fei initial group reading [x]. As for why Fei and Bailong Town dialect in , Xiao initial groups in the southeast of Henan is so , Qingchuan dialect and Wangcang complicated, it has something to do with the fact dialect, dialect, Songpan dialect in that it lies at the bordering area of several Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous provinces, while in the east it’s close to the Prefecture, dialect, Central Plains Mandarin in Anhui, and in the dialect, Luding dialect in Garzê Tibetan south close to the Southwest Mandarin and and so on. Jianghuai Mandarin in Hubei. Several Mandarin b) MC Xiao initial group is pronounced as [x] dialects influence each other, resulting in the before [o] and [oŋ], the rest are read as [f]. For complexity and variety of Xinyang dialects. example, Shuzhen dialect in , Wusheng B. The Mixing in the Southwest, Especially dialect in Guang’an, Gu County dialect in Yuechi. Sichuan, is the Most Complicated The scope of reading [x] in dialect of Guang’an is much larger than Wusheng dialect

2020 International Conference on Asian Language Processing (IALP) 328 and Gu County dialect. mixed up with each other. c) The rest. In the Hakka dialect of 1) [f] and [x] get mixed up with each other. , City, the first and second Fei initial in Kai County dialect is read as [f] class of Hekou (合口) in Xiao initial group and before Fei 废, You 尤, Fan 凡, Fa 乏, 屋 the third class of Hekou (合口) in Zhi She（止摄） finals, the rest read as [x]. The situation of mixing are pronounced as [f] . of Xiao initials is similar with dialect which is pronounced as [f] before final [u], medial [u] 2) MC Xiao 晓, Xia 匣 initials and Fei 非 and final [oŋ], the rest are read as [x]. Kai County initial group get mixed up with each other, some is on the transitional zone where [f] and [x] are MC Fei 非 initials are read as [x], some Xiao 晓, not very confusing and all Fei initials are Xia 匣 initials are pronounced as [f]. For example, pronounced as [x]. So the mixing of [f] and [x] in in Da County dialect of City, the third Kai County is quite confusing. class of Hekou in Fei initial group and the first class of Hekou in Xiao initial group are read as 2) Fei initial is read as [x] before [oŋ], the rest [f], the third class of Hekou in Fei initial group are still read as [f]. Xiao initial is read as [f] before and Xiao initials are read as [x]. In Kaijiang Hekou, the rest are still read as [x], e.g., Hechuan dialect and Xuanhan dialect of Dazhou City, the dialect. pronunciation of [f] is not limited to the Hekou in The 3rd kind: All Fei and Xiao initial groups Xiao initial group and the first class of Hekou of are read as [x], while there is no [f], e.g., Yu She, as well as the first class of Hekou in Hun Chengkou dialect, Fengjie dialect, Wushan Rhyme（魂韵）, e.g., “昏(lethargic)[fen]”. The dialect, Yunyang dialect. third class of Hekou in Fei initial group is read as [x]. Fei and Xiao initial groups do not mix in the main area of Hubei, the mixing only takes place The 2nd kind: All Fei initials are pronounced in sporadic places, and the places where Fei and as [x]. In “ dialect” of Kaijiang County Xiao initial groups mix are mainly concentrated in Dazhou, all Fei initials are read as [x] [14]. in the area around Enshi, such as Lichuan, The 3rd kind: Fei and Xiao initials are not Hefeng, etc., and Fei initials mixing with Xiao mixed. In Sichuan, most of Fei and Xiao initials initials mainly takes place in parts of southern get mixed with each other. According to the Qianjiang and City. present information, only in in 1) Xiao initial enters into Fei initial group. Guangyuan in the northeast of Sichuan, This situation only appears occasionally in some in , Jiajiang in the places, e.g., the first and second class of Hekou of north of , and two places in the central part Xiao and Xia initials in Dawu dialect in of Ya’an in the west of Leshan, were they not are read as [f] in Macheng and dialect, found to be mixed. mixing with Fei initials. Xiao initial is read as [f] Chongqing was once a part of Sichuan before [u] in , Xianfeng, Province, located in the south of Sichuan Zhangzhuangpu of Gong’an in Jinmen, Wufeng Province, with the same historical development in , Chongyang in . as Sichuan. They have the same mixing 2) Fei and Xiao initial groups mix with each conditions of Fei and Xiao initial groups, and other. Part of [f] and [x] in Lichuan dialect of many dialects haven’t initial [f]. There are Enshi mix with each other. The third class of roughly three types: Hekou in MC Fei initial group is read as [x], while The 1st type: Xiao initials enter into Fei initial the first class of Hekou of Yu She in MC Xiao group. initial group is read as [f] before simple final [u]. Xiao initial group in Hefeng dialect of Enshi is 1) Xiao initial is pronounced as [f] before [u]. read as [f] before [u[, while MC Fei, Fu, and Feng It’s a very common phenomenon in Chongqing. initials and Hongyin(洪音) of Hekou of Xiao and 2) Xiao initial is not only read as [f] before Xia initials in Rongmei City dialect and Zouma [u], but also before [oŋ]. For example, of Hefeng in Enshi are read as [f]. dialect. 3) Fei initials enter into Xiao initial group. In 3) Part of Xiao initials are read as [f], most of Xiantao, Laoxin Town in the south of Qianjiang, the first and second class of Kaikou are Zhangjin Town and Gaoshibei Town and other pronounced as [x]. For example, Hakka in places, there is no initial [f], Fei initial is read as Panlong Town, Rongchang County. [x].[15] The 2nd type: Fei and Xiao initial groups get It’s a common phenomenon in Southwestern

2020 International Conference on Asian Language Processing (IALP) 329 Mandarin in Guizhou and Yunnan that Xiao initial read [x]. For example, in Chengguan Town is read as [f] before [u]. The east dialect area in dialect of County, , Xiao southeastern Guizhou includes the counties of initials are read as [f] in the second class of Hekou Liping, Rongjiang, Congjiang, Jingping, and in Jia She, the first class of Hekou in Yu She, the Tianzhu, and also Jianhe, Sansui, Cengong, first class of Hekou in Xie She, the second class of Zhenyuan in the autonomous prefecture. The Hekou in Xie She, the third class of Hekou in Zhi dialects in this area are influenced by the south She, the first class of Hekou in Zhen She, the dialect of Dong where initial [f] doesn’t appear. second class of Hekou in Geng She. Some Xiao There is no initial consonant of [f] in Dong and Xia initials in the third class of Hekou in Phonology, but now the initial [f] is “only used Dang She and Tong She are read as [x]. However, for modern Chinese ”. Therefore, in the in Liusha River dialect of Ningxiang County, Fei areas affected by the Dong language, the local initials are read as [x] in the third class of Hekou people can not pronounce [x], [f] correctly. The in Zhi She, Zhen She, Dang She and Tong She, problem in the eastern dialect of Southeastern Xiao and Xia initials are read as [f] in the first Qian is the reverse of [x], [f], that is, when the class of Hekou in Yu She and Zhen She, the second local people speak Putonghua, they usually use class of Hekou in Geng She. How to classify is a the two initials [x], [f] in reverse. For example, big problem, we can only conclude that part of the 非凡(extraordinary)[xuei xuan]、回还(return) Xiao initial groups are read as [f], part of the Fei [fei fan],etc.[16]. In the southern dialect area, initial Group are read as [x]. Classifications are as except for the absence of the initial consonant of follows: [f] in the Zhuang and Dong language families, 1) Fei and Xiao initial groups mix with each there is no exception to the confusion in the other pronunciation of [x], [f] in other dialects, such as the confusion of “” and “Wang” in a) MC Xiao and Xia initials are read as [f] dialect, having [x] without [f] in before [u]. MC Fei initial group is read as [x] and dialect, as well as the before [oŋ]. For example, , confusion of [x] and [f] in Xiang, Yue and Hakka Chengguan Town dialect of Shimen in dialects [17]. City, Guandu dialect, Panshi dialect, etc.. C．Dialects and Mandarin in Southern China b) Part of Xiao initials are read as [f], part of Interfere with Each Other, and the Mixing of Fei Fei initials are read as [x]. This is a very and Xiao Initials is Complex complicated situation where dialects vary from place to place, for example, in dialects of The dialects of Hunan and Guangxi are Chengguan Town, Shuangjiangkou, Huaminglou among the most complex regions, mainly because of Ningxiang County in Changsha City, Xiao and they are much more complex than the mandarin Xia initials are read as [f] in the second class of dialects. Hunan Province is the area of Xiang Hekou in Jia She, the first class of Hekou in Yu dialects and Guangxi Province is the area where She, the first class of Hekou in Xie She, the second the minority nationalities gather. However, the class of Hekou in Xie She, the third class of Hekou situation is more complicated because of the in Zhi She, the first class of Hekou in Zhen She, mutual influence and interference of the dialects the second class of Hekou in Geng She. Some of in these areas. For example, in the dialects of Xiao and Xia initials are read as [x] in the third Hunan Province, it is difficult to classify Fei and class of Hekou in Dang She and Tong She. Xiao initial groups, because some of these words read [f] , some of those words read [f], it’s hard to 2) Xiao initials enter into Fei initial group, find the rules. There are also dialects where there which are read as [f]. For example, in are no [x], only [h]. According to Wang Li, there Gaotangling Town dialect of Wangcheng County is another stage in the development of [h] to [x], in Changsha City, most of Hongyin(洪音) in Xiao while [h] is an older pronunciation. If the local initial group are read as [x], most of Hekou of five dialect has no [x] , only [h] , it shows that the She like Jia, Yu, Xie, Zhen and Dang She are read dialect still retains the relatively ancient state, as [f], Xiyin (细音) of Hekou in Zhi She of Xiao such as some dialects of Guangxi and Jiangxi. initial group is read as [f]. In Shijiang Town This situation has not yet been found in Hunan dialect of Shaoyangdong, Xiao initials are read as dialect. [f] before Hekou. It is difficult for us to make a very general 3) Fei initials enter into Xiao initial group, classification of the mixing of Fei and Xiao initial which are read as [x]. For example, Mandarin of groups in Hunan dialect. In some dialects, only Youtingxu in northeast of , part of Xiao initials read [f], part of Fei initials Shuangpai County, of Yongzhou

2020 International Conference on Asian Language Processing (IALP) 330 City and other places. “Yongzhou dialect” in e.g., 斧(axe)妇(woman)[pu33]. Some of MC Fei Kaijiang County of Dazhou in Sichuan Province initials are read as [x], the same as Xiao initials, still retains this character which has not [f]. e.g., Miao dialect of Longsheng in City. 4) In some places, MC Fei, Fu, Feng initials 3) Fei and Xiao initials mix with each other. are also pronounced as [p][ph], which are older E.g., Fei, Fu, Feng initials of the third class of sounds, and labiodental [f] has not yet appeared, Hekou of Dang She are read as [x] in Mao Village for example, local dialect of Shouyan Town and dialect of Daxu Town in Lingchuan County of Meihua in Dao County of Yongzhou City, Guilin City, Hekou of Xiao and Xia initials are Anhuandong City dialect of City, Baojing read as [f]. Some of the characters in Gaoshang dialect of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous local dialect of Xin’an in Guilin City retain the Prefecture. ancient phenomenon of “labiodental belongs to bilabial”. A small number of them are read as [h] Guangxi is a concentrated area of ethnic which reflects the characteristics of Xiang dialect. minorities with a great variety of languages, such Xiao initials are mainly divided into three initials: as , Baihua, Minghua, Baixing dialect, [h], [ʃ], [f], when in Kaikouhu and Hekouhu, both Tuhua, Hakka, Miao dialect, Yunian dialect, [h] and [f] are good [18]. Most of Fei and Fu and Mandarin. However, Mandarin in initials in Fei initial group are read as [f], some of these places is quite different from that in the them are read as [h], e.g., 府(residence)[fu42]，风 mainland. There is only initial [h], without initial (wind)[huŋ53] ， 费 (cost)[fei33] ， 峰 (mountain) [x] in many places of Guangxi, for example, [huŋ53] in today’s Yizhou Baixing dialect of Wuxu Town Pinghua in City, Zheyuan City. dialect of Jiangzhou in , Baoping dialect in Taochengtang of in 4) No initial [f]. For example, Yandong local Guilin City, etc.. It shows that these dialects still dialect of Ziyuan County in Guilin City has no retains a more ancient state. Many dialects in labiodental while Bang 帮 initials are in the state Guangxi have voiced [v] , which corresponds to of semi-differentiation, the undifferentiated the voiceless [f]. The multi-ethnic cohabitation in initials are still pronounced as labials, e.g., 飞 Guangxi leads to the complexity of the local (fly)[pai44]，肺(lung)[phei35]，浮(float)[bu23]. The dialects and the mixed situation of Fei and Xiao differentiated ones are pronounced as [x], which initials. When Xiao initials enter into Fei initial become the same as Xiao initial group of Jian Xi group, different dialects behave differently. They ( 见系), for example, 风 (wind)[xuaŋ44] ， 废 are as follows: (waste)[xuei35][19]. Fei initials are mainly read as [x], some are read as [ph] or zero initial in 1) MC Xiao initials enter into Fei initial dialect of Xin’an County in Guilin City [20]. group: In most of Guangxi dialects, Xiao initial a) Xiao and Xia initials are pronounced as [f] group mix with Fei initial group, and there are no only before [u], e.g., Guilin dialect, dialects without initial [x]. The languages in dialect, Lipu dialect, Luzhai Mandarin in Guangxi include 13 dialects, such as Chinese, Liuzhou. Zhuang, Mian, Bunu, Lajia, Miao and Dong b) Xiao initials are read as [f] only before languages. Among them, Chinese dialects include Hekou, e.g., Mengjiang Town dialect in Teng Cantonese (vernacular), Southwest Mandarin

County of : 苦溪(bitter)=虎晓(tiger)=抚敷 (namely Guiliu dialect), Hakka (slang Ya dialect,

(fondle)[fu]，婚 晓(marriage)=分非(split)[fɐn]，荒 Xinmin dialect, Mege dialect, etc.), Pinghua,

晓 (barren)= 方 非 (square)[fɔŋ]. In some dialects, Xiang dialect in North Gui and Min dialect. In only a few Xiao initials are read as [f] before addition to the using Chinese, other Hekou, the rest are not mixed, e.g., Mengshan ethnic groups have their own languages, some of dialect in Wuzhou. In some dialects, most of Xiao which also use several languages. In terms of the initials are read as [f] before Hekou, e.g., richness of Chinese dialect resources, Guangxi is dialect in , and most of its undoubtedly second to none in China. Therefore, Kaikou in Jia She, Xie She, Zhi She, Xiao She, it is natural that the mixing of the Fei and Xiao Zeng She and the first class of Kaikou in Xian She, initials is complicated. the first and second class of Kaikou in Shan She D. The Languages in Southeast China are are read as [h]. It’s a common feature of Hakka Ancient, and the Mixing of Fei and Xiao Initials that Hekou of Xiao initial group is read as [f], for is Clear at a Glance example, Guiling dialect in Hezhou, Pinhua in Chaoyang New Village in Guilin City. The dialects of southeast region should be the most complex and diverse. Various dialects 2) Part of MC Fei initials are read as bilabials,

2020 International Conference on Asian Language Processing (IALP) 331 interweave together to form a huge dialect Province during Hongwu Period 600 years ago empire. In this empire, Gan, Yue, Min, Hakka and were all Jiangxi people who immigrated to other Mandarin are everywhere. Except for Jiangxi places, and did not immigrate from outside to Province, other provinces are close to the sea, inside. Therefore, Jiangxi local dialect was not such as Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang and so on. affected by other dialects. At the same time, the The geographical location of these places high mountains around Jiangxi Province blocked determines the uniqueness and antiquity of the the communication between the local and the local language. Jiangxi, for example, is far from outside world, resulting in the local dialect the sea, but surrounded by mountains. Because of retaining more ancient features. the barrier of high mountains and the poor traffic Guangdong is different from Jiangxi. Since in ancient times, the language is not in circulation, , a large number of immigrants have and the ancient features of language are naturally entered Guangdong, and there were five groups in preserved. Qin Dynasty. There are many immigrants coming Gan dialect is the main one in Jiangxi, and in, most of which are forced by the government mixed with Mandarin. In the aspect of mixing of or caused by war. Combined with the natural Fei and Xiao initial groups, it’s mainly that Xiao barrier of mountains and sea, many ancient initial group is mixed with Fei initial group. Some Chinese features of immigrants from the north are dialects only have [h]. Jiangxi dialect has no preserved. For example, initial [x] rarely appears, mixing of Fei and Xiao initial groups and also has there is mainly initial [h]. In many dialects, there no situation of Fei initial group entering into Xiao is a phenomenon of literary reading and initial group. From the point of view of the colloquial reading. Colloquial reading of Fei frequent occurrence of local dialects [h] and the initial group is generally bilabial, while literal fact that some dialects only have bilabials, it reading is labiodental. The mixing of Fei and shows that the local dialects are more ancient and Xiao initials in Guangdong dialect is rare, there less affected by external dialects. The situation of are only three kinds, they are as follows. mixing of Fei and Xiao initial groups is simple, 1) Xiao initial group enters into Fei initial which has only two kinds: group. 1) No initial [f]. Gan dialect in has no a) Xiao initials enter into Fei initial group, initial [f], and MC Fei initials are read as zero Xia initials don’t. For example, most of Kaikou of initial. Part of Fei, Fu, Feng initials in Guangfeng Xiao initials in Cantanese of evolved dialect in City are pronounced as [p, ph, into glottal fricative [h], most of Hekou evolved b] respectively. Fei, Fu, Feng initials in Yiyang into labiodental fricative [f]. Most of Xiao and Xia dialect in Shangrao City are read as [ɸ]. Fei initial initials in Hakka of in are group in Lianhua dialect in City read as [h]. Xiao initials are read as [f] with the evolved into [h, ɕ]. Fei, Fu, Feng initials in first class of Hekou in Guo She, the second class Shicheng dialect of City are pronounced of Hekou in Jia She, the first class of Hekou in Yu as [p, ph]. She, the first class of Hekou in Xie She, the third 2) Xiao initials enters into Fei initial group. class of Hekou in Zhi She. Most of Hekou in MC For example, the literary pronunciation of first Fei, Fu, Feng initials and Xiao initials are and second class of Hekou of Xiao and Xia initials pronounced as [h] in Cantanese of Yangshan in is [f] in Lixi dialect of and City, part of Fei initials are read as Zhendu Town dialect of . The bilabials [p], [ph], Xiao initials have three forms third and fourth class of Hekou in Xiao and Xia [kh], [h], [f]. initials is [f] in dialect in City. b) Both Xiao and Xia initials enter into Fei All Xiao and Xia initials before Hekouhu are read initial group. For example, MC Xiao and Xia as [f] in Zhongling Town dialect in Fuzhou, initials in Hakka of Huiyang are read as [f] before Xingzi dialect in , Anfu dialect in Ji’an, [u]. All Kaikou and the third and fourth class of Old Town dialect in Ganzhou. The first and Hekou in MC Xiao and Xia initials in Hakka of second class of Hekou in MC Xiao and Xia initial are mainly read as [h], the first and group are read as [f] and [v] in Xinfeng dialect of second class of Hekou are mainly read as [f]. Ganzhou nowadays. Hekou of MC Xiao and Xia initials in Wuhua The mixing of Fei and Xiao initial groups in dialect of Meizhou are read as labiodental [f]. Jiangxi dialect is relatively simple, which is 2) Xiao and Fei initials get mixed with each related to the historical immigrants. The ancient other. Some of Fei initials are read as [h], some of “Jiangxi fills Huguang, Huguang fills Sichuan”, Xiao initials are read as [f]. For example, in and the immigrants to and Hefei in Anhui

2020 International Conference on Asian Language Processing (IALP) 332 She( 畲 )dialect of Linjiang in Zijin County, Zhejiang has a saying that “seven mountains, besides [f], Fei, Fu, Feng initials can also be read one water and two fields”. Because of the as [h]. Part of Hekouhu of Xiao and Xia initials separation of the mountains and rivers, it’s are read as [f] and [v], part of them are read as [h]. difficult for the people to move and the language to circulate. Like Guangdong and Fujian, the 3) No initial [f]. For example, Jizhaohai dialect in this province is relatively ancient. Some dialect, Dianbaihai dialect and dialect in dialects don’t have [x] thus far, they only have [h], Qinba Town of Wuchuan City in do not [ɦ]. For example, dialect in City, have labiodental [f]. Fei initials are mainly read Baiguan Town dialect in Shangyi City in as [h], [p], or zero initial. Most of MC Fei, Fu, Shangxin. Lanjiang Town dialect in Jinhua have Feng initials in and other places are no initial [f]. The mixing of the other dialects is read as [p] or [ph]. Most of MC Fei, Fu, Feng as follows: initials in Shaotou dialect of Nanhai County in City are read as [p，ph], part of 1) Fei initial group enters into Xiao initial Hekou of MC Xiao initials are pronounced as zero group, e.g., In dialect, most of Fei and initial in Shatou dialect. In Jizhao dialect of Qinba Fu initials are read as [h] when followed by [o] or Town of Wuchuan City in Zhanjiang, [f] is rarely [oŋ], Feng initial is read as [ɦ] in Hongqiao when seen. followed by [oŋ]. Fei and Fu initials in Ou dialect island in of Wenzhou are read as In Fujian dialect, there is a common [h] before Yangsheng Rhyme(阳声韵) of the third phenomenon of colloquial and literal class of Hekou in Dang She. pronunciations. There are only two kinds of mixing of Fei and Xiao initials, one is no initial 2) Xiao initial group enters into Fei initial [f], the other is Xiao initial entering into Fei initial group. For example, Xiao initial is mainly read as group. In the dialects without initial [f], either the [f] before Hekouhu in Fenghua District dialect of Fei initial group retains the bilabials, and does not , Weiping dialect of Chun’an County in evolve to the labiodental stage, or they all mix . into Xiao initial group and read as initial [h] or The existence of ancient sounds in the [x]. There are many dialects in Fujian, such as dialect of this area is mainly manifested in the Xiamen dialect, Xiamen Tong’an dialect and following aspects: 1. There is only initial [h] and Quanzhou dialect which have [h] without [x]. no [x], indicating that their development is still in Due to the continuous mountains and valleys, a relatively ancient stage; 2. The appearance of [f] there was little contact with the outside world in is very late, and naturally it is impossible to mix ancient times, and most of dialects in these places them up. remained ancient. For example: III. THE REASONS OF MIXING OF FEI AND It retains the characteristics of “no voiceless labials in ancient times” and has no labiodental XIAO INITIAL GROUPS [f]. The literary pronunciation of MC Fei initial Why is the mixing of Fei and Xiao initial group in Daixi dialect of Pinnan in City is groups so complicated? Why are all Fei initials in [x], colloquial pronunciation is bilabial [p] or [ph]. some dialects entering into Xiao initial group, part Some of Xiao and Xia initials are read as [p], [ph]. of Fei initials in some dialects entering into Xiao There is no initial [f] in Xiamen, Quanzhou and initial group, some Xiao initial groups getting Zhangzhou. Fei, Fu, Feng initials in Xiamen mixed with Fei initial groups, some cross mixed? dialect are read as [p], [ph], [b] in ancient times, In Shangshui dialect of Zhoukou in Henan Xiao and Xia initials are generally read as [h]. Province, there appear “phonetic exchange” or When Xiao initial group mixes into Fei initial “change reading”, that is, Fei initials reading [x] group, the colloquial pronunciation is always [p], and Xiao initials reading [f]. What are the reasons only in literary pronunciation is it [f]. It shows for these? Why is it that only Fei initial groups that written language has accepted modern entered into Xiao initial group, and there is no pronunciation and has spread to many words. For case that all Xiao initial groups entered into Fei example, the colloquial pronunciation of Kongfu initial groups? Why is it that when Fei initial Village dialect in Peifeng Town of Yongding group is pronounced as [x], it must be followed County in Longyan is [p], the literary by [u], while Xiao initial group is pronounced pronunciation is [f]. Most of Xiao initials that are with [u] as initial [f], then [u] will fall off? For now [f] are Hekou, and because of the change of these cases, scholars have their own arguments. initial , most of the of these They all discussed these from the historical Hekou become Kaikou (except for Yu She). evolution, phonology and physiology of language respectively, but no one gives a convincing

2020 International Conference on Asian Language Processing (IALP) 333 answer. Here Qiao’s view[21] is quite reasonable, round lip is highlighted, the lower teeth and the he said: “As for Fei initial group splitting up from upper lip are not easy to contact, and it is not easy Bang initial group, there are different evolution to form obstacles in the original pronunciation processes in different regions. One branch first position of labiodentals; the round lips enlarge the evolved from [p], [b] (ancient times) to [pf] (in front cavity, and it is not easy to form an obstacle the MC “Qieyun” era), and then [f] (after Tang in the front cavity; in order to maintain fricativity, and Song dynasties), such as Tong dialects and Jin the obstructed place moves to the back of the dialects except Bingzhou and Lvliang; the other mouth, thus forming an obstacle in the soft palate, branch continued to evolve from [fu] to [hu] which is the fricative of the root of tongue. From (), including the pronunciation of the perspective of the evolution of “f > x” in today’s Wu dialect, the literary reading of Min Northern Jiangsu dialect, the action of round lips dialect and the pronunciation of Fei initial group is most likely to be highlighted when the closing of Bingzhou and Lvliang districts of Jin dialects. element is used as the final, and the evolution of In this way, Fei initial group reading [x] can only “f> x” is the most likely to occur; when the develop later, which is based on bilabials reading closing is used in the , the frequency of as labiodental, and the place of articulation highlighting the colour of round lips is reduced, continues to move backward. This can be proved and the probability of evolution from [f] to [x] is either from the sound theory or from the reduced. The action of the round lips of the literature. According to [hv] in Fei and Feng anastomotic components may be the reason for initials in Bo Book, the current reading of Wu the evolution of “f> x” [23]. dialect and Xiang dialect, the literary reading of IV. CONCLUSION Fei initial group in Min language is [x] but not [f], which should also be in Song Dynasty. The time From the above discussion, we have the of the literary pronunciation being introduced into following findings: Fujian should also be in Song Dynasty.” Qiao’s 1) The more ancient the language is, the easier view shows how MC Fei and Xiao initials came the mixing of Fei and Xiao initial groups is. The into being at the beginning and how they existence of ancient language can be judged by developed. We could get more information about whether there are bilabials, whether there is general evolution process of language from the labiodental [f] and whether there is [h] in the evolution of . One of the evolution dialect. For example, the dialects in Southeast precesses of Proto-Bai language is *p-+*-j-→pf- China, which are blocked by mountains and →f-, and two dialects Ega and Jinman continue to waters, have little communication with the evolve, f-→xu- is on progress [22]. It shows that outside world, and the mixing of Fei and Xiao [f] came from [p], then evolves to [xu]. initial groups in these places is simple. At present, the pronunciation of Fei and Xiao 2) The closer to the north, the simpler the initial groups in some places is more affected by mixing of Fei and Xiao initial groups is. In the other factors, such as war, immigration, political northern part of mixing of Fei and Xiao initial interference, cultural exchange, and the groups, there are only two kinds of mixing, they interaction between various dialects. For are located on the edge of mixing, such as example, in Zhenping dialect of Ankang in Shaanxi, Shanxi and so on. The Fei initial group Shaanxi Province there is only [x], no [f]. All MC is read as [x] or the Xiao initial group is read as Fei initials are read as [x]. The local dialect is not [f] before the single vowel [u]. Further north, a natural evolution, but a result of several recent there is no mixing. large migrations, that is, “Huguang filling Sichuan” and “Huguang filling Southern 3) The more complex the immigration is, the Shaanxi”. Immigrants replaced the local people, more complex the mixing of Fei and Xiao initial and the language naturally replaced the local groups is. For example, Sichuan, Hunan and other dialect. places are the areas where immigrants immigrate in different years, and the mixing of Fei and Xiao When [f] changes to [x], why is it always initial groups is complex and diverse. followed by [u]? Although the action of closing disappear after the labiodentals are produced, the 4) In the bordering area of dialects, the labiodentals themselves are still labial sounds; mixing of Fei and Xiao initial groups is with the disappearance of the closing action, the complicated. For example, in the bordering area action of closing of the round lips changes from of Central Plains Mandarin and Jianghuai dominant to recessive, hidden in the process of Mandarin in the Northern Jiangsu, the mixing of pronouncing labiodentals, and can be highlighted Fei and Xiao initial groups is very complicated. under certain conditions. When the action of the

2020 International Conference on Asian Language Processing (IALP) 334 5) Some places are suddenly different from the eastern dialect of Southeast Guizhou,” Journal of the surrounding dialects, such as Shangshui Qiandongnan Teachers College for Nationalities, No. 4, dialect. There is no mixing of Fei and Xiao initial pp. 27-28, 1996. groups in the surrounding areas. Only in this [17] Wang, Guisheng, “The phonetics of Dong language and place, Fei and Xiao initial groups have the the eastern dialect of Southeast Guizhou,” Journal of phenomenon of changing pronunciation. At Qiandongnan Teachers College for Nationalities, No. 4, present, the reason is not clear and needs further pp. 27-28, 1996. discussion. [18] Mi, Sijun, Research on Gaoshang Tu Dialect in Xin’an. Guangxi Univerity Master’s thesis, 2004. REFERENCES [19] Zhang, Guiquan, “The phonetic system of Yandong Tu [1] Qiao, Quansheng, “The evolution of the initial dialect in Ziyuan County of Northern Guangxi,” Journal consonants of labiodentals in Jin Dialects,” Linguistic of Guilin Teachers College (Comprehensive Edition), Researches, No.1, pp. 53-56, 2005. Vol. 19, No.1, pp.9-15, 2005. [2] Li, Lan, Similarities and differences of internal and [20] Li, Bi, The phonetic study on Jieshou dialect of Xin’an initial consonant in Southwest Mandarin. Doctoral County in Guangxi. Master's thesis of Guangxi Normal Dissertation of Institute of language, Chinese Academy University, 2013. of Social Sciences, 1995. [21] Qiao, Quansheng, “The evolution of the initial [3] He, Da’an, “Law and direction: the phonological consonants of labiodentals in Jin Dialects,” Linguistic structure in the process of changing”, : Beijing Researches, No.1, pp. 53-56, 2005. University Press, 2004. [22] Wang, Feng, “Language contact and language [4] Zhuang, Chusheng, “The initial consonants of labialized comparison: Take Bai language as an example,” velar in Hakka dialect and other Southeast dialects,” Commercial Press, 2012. Dialect, No. 2, pp. 158-168, 2016. [23] Feng, Qingqing, The phonetic research on North Su [5] Zhuang, Chusheng, “The further study on the causes of dialect. Doctoral Dissertation of Beijing University, labialized Hekou in MC Xiao initials in Southern 2013. dialects,” Studies of , No. 3,pp. 332- 338, 2017. [6] Cui, Nana, The phonetic research on Xin County dialect. Master’s thesis of Shaanxi Normal University, 2010. [7] Hu, Yali, A study on phonetics of Wenshui dialect of Shanxi Province. Master's thesis of Shanxi Normal University, 2012. [8] Feng, Qiuli, The comparative study on phonetics of Xi County dialect. Master's thesis of Shanghai Normal University, 2014. [9] Liu, Xuexia, The evolution and level of phonetics of Henan dialect. Doctoral Dissertation of Fudan University, 2006. [10] Yang, Yonglong, “ Phonology of Shangcheng (Nansi) Dialect in Henan Province,” Dialect, No.2, pp.133-146, 2008. [11] Wang, Yueyue, The study on five counties in northwest Anhui. Master's thesis of Shanghai Normal University, 2015. [12] Liu, Cunyu, A study on the phonological evolution of Jianghuai Mandarin in Jiangsu Province. Doctoral Dissertation of University, 2012. [13] Feng, Qingqing, The phonetic research on North Su dialect. Doctoral Dissertation of Beijing University, 2013. [14] Liu, Ping, A study on phonetics of “Yongzhou accent” in Kaijiang. Master's thesis of Southwest Jiaotong University, 2016. [15] Li, Wan, A study on the phonetics and geolinguistics of Qianjiang dialect in Hubei Province, Master’s thesis of , 2010. [16] Wang, Guisheng, “The phonetics of Dong language and

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