Ming Mandarin Phonetic Evolution

Ming Dynasty is an important period in the history of Modern Chinese koine. The Pattern of modern Mandarin dialects is Basically established in this period. The historical material on Ming Mandarin is very rich,and the Nature of these material is diverse. Not only include a large number of Chinese traditional rhyme book and rhyme table,but also include many alphabetic materials,such as Korean orthographic records of Chinede.Among these,the sourse written by late Ming missionary is particularly worthy of attention.In recent decades, Scholars research Ming Mandarin based on new material and new theory, and made some new Conclusion.So we have some new understanding about the evolution of Mandarin. However, on some major issues, such as basic dialect of the Ming Mandarin, scholars have differences. Indor to solve this problem,it is necessary to make a deep study on the evolution of phonological structure.In recent decades, Scholars research Ming Mandarin based on new material and new theory, and made some new Conclusion.So we have some new understanding about the evolution of Mandarin. However, on some major issues, such as basic dialect of the Ming Mandarin, scholars have differences. Indor to solve this problem,it is necessary to make a deep study on the evolution of phonological structure.This thesis researched the Sound System of Ming Mandarin, based on the sourses of Yan and Ming period combined with modern dialects.The full text is divided into five chapters.Chapter 1 is introduction,which gives a brief introduction about the profile of Ming Mandarin, some consensus of previous studies,and the resourses this study based on.We propose that Yuan and Ming Mandarin must be divided into three local variants, early Central Plain Mandarin dialect, Early northern Mandarin dialect and Early South Mandarin dialect.Further more,there are difference between reading Mandarin and spoken Mandarin.The study of Ming Mandarin must be built on this the premise.In hapter 2,we studied the initial evolution of the Ming Mandarin.We mainly discussed: (1)The devoised process in differert Mandarin variants;(2) The evolution of initial groupzhi (知),zhuang (庄),zhang (章) .we believe that these these initial group became one group in Yuan Dynasty,and represent retroflex initial.The opposition between zhi the second grade (知二).. zhuang (庄) and zhi the third grade (知三), zhang (章) is lie in medial -i-. This is common characteristics of northern and Southern Mandarin in Yuan and Ming period. The evolution of initial group zhi (知),zhuang (庄) and zhang (章) in Zhi rhyme group(止摄) is different in northern and Southern Mandarin.This two evolution types can be connected with "Zhongyuan yinyun"(中原音韵) and "Menggu ziyun"(蒙古字韵).(3)The evolution of initial ying(影),yu(喻) and yi(疑).We believe that these three initials have habecome zero initial in Yuan and Ming Mandarin.The initial "g额" in "Xiru ermuzi"(西儒耳目资) represents initialγ-in modern Mandarin dialects.It does not opposite with zero initial.(4) The evolution of initial wei(微).(5) The evolution of initial Chuang(床) and chan(禅).In hapter 3,we studied the finial evolution of the Ming Mandarin.Our study focused on the evolution of entering finial in rhyme group dang(宕),jiang(江),zeng(曾),geng(梗),tong(通).The ending of these five entering rhyme group underwent diffwerert evolution types in different variant of the Mandarin. In early northern Mandarin dialect,the entering ending of group dang(宕),jiang(江),zeng(曾),geng(梗),tong(通) became -i or -u.,while in early Central Plain Mandarin dialect,these entering ending became glottal stop -(?) and then disappeared.Chapter 4 discussed the historical evolution of Mandarin tones.We mainly discussed the allocation of entering tone,and reconstruction of the toneal value of theMing Mandarin.Finally,in chapter 5,we proposed our opinion on the Basical dialect of Ming Mandarin.