| An Hua county, known as Mei Shan in ancient times, lies in the central-north part of Hunan Province. Mei Cheng, located at the southeast part of An Hua County, had been the county-seat from the Fourth year of Jian Yan Reign (A. D.1130) to the year 1951. This thesis is devoted to investigate the phonetic features of Mei Cheng dialect. As there are not many systematic or fundamental studies about it, the nature of Mei Cheng dialect has not yet been clearly defined, neither has its relationship with its neighbor dialects. Based on field investigation and experimental phonetics methodology, this thesis tries to provide a comprehensive and systematic collection of phonetic samples of Mei Cheng dialect. This thesis attempts to present the phonetic feature of Mei Cheng dialect, through the synchronic comparison with its neighbor dialects and the diachronic comparison with Middle-ancient dialect. It is hoped that this thesis will provide abundant linguistic materials and scientific reference for future research on Mei Cheng dialect.The Introduction introduces the geographic, historic and ethnic features of An Hua county and Mei Cheng, as well as the previous study of the dialects of An Hua county and Mei Cheng.Chapter two illustrates the phonetic system of the Mei Cheng dialect, and the interaction of its initials finals and tones. The method of experimental phonetics has been employed in this chapter to provide an accurate description and scientific analysis of the tones of Mei Cheng dialect.Chapter three explores the development of Mei Cheng dialect and its phonetic features by comparison with the initials finals and tones of the Middle-ancient times diachronically.Chapter four conducts the synchronic comparison between Mei Cheng dialect with its neighbor dialects-Yi Yang dialect and Lan Tian dialect of Lian Yuan area. It has been found that although parts of old phonetic features of Mei Cheng are closer to Lan Tian dialect; more, and especially new, phonetic features of this dialect are closer to Yi Yang dialect. And another presumption about Mei Cheng dialect has been made, that is, its tendency of convergence to Yi Yang dialect will be enhanced due to the influence of politics, transportation, and so on. Combined with the local people's sense of language, we would classify Mei Cheng dialect as the dialect of Chang-Yi Category.Final conclusion makes a brief summary to the main points of the thesis. |
