An Analysis of the Phonetic Features of Xinzhou Dialects Reflected in Local Idioms
Based on the 2725 sayings compiled in Xinzhou(忻州)Folklores,this paper finds that they are of great value in reflecting the phonological characteristics of Xinzhou(忻州)dialects.The characteristics of voiced consonants,confluence of Zhi(知系)and Jing(精组)consonants,Yi-Ying(疑影)initiai can be reflected in dialects.The confluence of the five rhymes,such as the confluence of Xianshan(咸山)、Dangjiang(宕江)and Guojia(果假)Termination,the confluence of Shen-Zhen-Zeng-Zeng-Tong(深臻曾梗通),and the confluence of Zeng-Geng(曾梗)and Xie(蟹)Termination,can also be found in the dialect proverbs.The most prominent feature of the Xinzhou(忻州)dialect in terms of tone is the confluence of flat and upper tones.