Innovative sound change in the regional Yayin(雅音)of Eastern Han Dynasty:On the merge of zhi(支)and zhi(脂)rhyme groups
Regional phonological characteristics,in essence,exhibit structural differences between dialects,which further lead to dialectal innovative sound change.The merge of zhi(支)and zhi(脂)rhyme groups can be found in the Eastern Han Yayin(雅音,lingua franca)of two regions:One between the Yellow River and the Luoshui River(the Heluo region),and the other in the present Shandong province(the Qilu region).However,such a merge is only attested in the fourth division in Heluo Yayin and limited to the third and fourth divisions in Qilu Yayin.The merge in fourth division was inherited from the earlier lingua franca,with *ee＞ii vowel raising in the zhi(支)rhyme thus becoming the same as the*ii of zhi(脂)rhyme.The merge in third division is peculiar to Qilu Yayin,with*e＞i vowel raising in the zhi(支)rhyme thus joining the*i of zhi(脂)rhyme.This tripartite pattern was later inherited by the Qieyun system of Middle Chinese.Besides,the merge of zhi(支)and zhi(脂)rhyme in third division in Qilu Yayin could be the source of zi(紫)and zi(姊)sharing the same sound in northern Middle Chinese.
Eastern HanHeluo YayinQilu Yayinregional characteristicsinnovative sound changeQieyun system
万方数据
