An Experimental Study On The Phonology Of Luoyang Dialect

Luoyang,located in the west of Henan province and the middle-lower reaches of Yellow River,is named for its location in the sunny side of Luohe River.Luoyang dialect belongs to the LuoSong.dialect of Zhongyuan Mandarin.In this paper,the author uses acoustic experiment to investigate the phonology and syllable contraction phenomenon of contemporary Luoyang dialect and sorts out the Homonym Syllabary of Luoyang Dialect,as well as contrasts and analyzes the variation towards Putonghua in Luoyang dialect.In contemporary Luoyang dialect,there are twenty five initials([(?)pph mfvtth nltstsh s ts tsh s z t(?)t(?)h(?)n k kh x(?)),thirty seven vowels([(?)(?)i y(?)u a(?)ai ei au(?)u ia ua iε yε u(?)y(?)iau i(?)u uai uei an(?)n in un yn a(?)e(?)i(?)u(?)y(?)ian uan yan ia(?)ya(?)]),four citation tones(Yinping[34],Yangping[34],Shangsheng[34],Qusheng[34]).The characteristics of the initials,vowels and tones in Luoyang dialect.The size of the plosive’s VOT is inversely proportional to the place of articulation,and it is in proportion to the size of Gap.To plosive and affricative,the aspirated sound’s VOT or duration of the friction is longer than the unaspirated sound,but the unaspirated sound’s Gap is longer than the aspirated sound.VOT(or duration friction)and Gap are compensation relationship(when VOT or duration of the friction is long/short,Gap is short/long).In terms of the spectrum center of gravity and the degree of dispersion,the unaspirated affricative sounds are all higher than the aspirated in the same articulation place,and voiceless fricatives are all higher than voiced fricatives.To voiceless fricatives,the spectrum center of gravity is proportional to the degree of dispersion in height degree.Single vowels are divided into the steady([u a])and the dynamic([(?)(?)i(?)y(?)]).The discreteness of F1 are uaually larger than F2 for the diphthong vowels,so the diphthong vowels change obviously in the high-low dimensions.The discreteness of F1 are all smaller than F2 for the triphthong vowels,so the triphthong vowels change obviously in the front-back dimensions.To the nasal consonant finals,the discreteness of F1 is generally larger than F2.When the finals’ main vowels are the same,the discreteness of the anterior nasal consonant finals are universally smaller than that of the posterior nasal consonant finals.When the finals’ codas are the same,the discreteness of the anterior nasal consonant finals are larger because the main vowels’ tongue position are relatively more backward,and the discreteness of the posterior nasal consonant finals are larger because the main vowels’ tongue position are relatively lower.To citation tones,Yangping,Shangsheng and Qusheng are all high falling tone,but the three do not confluence.The acoustic differences of them are that the main distribution and partial distribution are distrinct.Disyllabic tones are divided into the basic formula and Qingsheng formula.The former word keeps its citation tone type or changes into a flat type.The tone type of the later word is stable for basic formula,while it is mainly a low falling tone for Qingsheng formula.In the basic formula,Yangping and Shangsheng become one.To syllable contraction phenomenon,when the vowels value are the same,initials or tones affect the movement and dispersion,which are larger under the condition of zero initial,non-insufflation initial and Yinpingtone than that of non-zero initial,insufflation initial,and Qusheng tone.The phonological experiment of Luoyang dialect shows that[γ n.]belong to the initials of contemporary Luoyang dialect.The finals[o un u],which is inconsistent in the literatures,should be recorded as[u ai au un u]in the contemporary Luoyang dialect.In recent years,there are some changes for Luoyang dialect’s phonology.The oxyphonia initials have disappeared and been combined into the palatalized sound,which made some vowels’pronunciations change from pursing mouth to closing mouth.[v]is replaced by[0]and the pronunciation of the vowel changes from opening mouth to closing mouth.[i]behind the labiodental consonant is changed into[ei].The[w]after the velar consonant becomes[(?)]or[ei].In tone value,Qusheng becomes the same as Putonghua.Rusheng characters in ancient times was classfied to flat tones originally,now part of them have developed into other tones,but mainly Qusheng.