Abstract: This paper presents the typological facts about the vowels, vowel systems, and nasal vowels in the Chinese dialects. Nine vowel systems are identified. The size of the vowel systems of the 86 sample dialects ranges from three to eleven. The 7-vowel system is most frequent. The next most frequent systems are the 6-, 8-, 9-, and 5-vowel systems. 3-, 4-, 10-, and 11-vowel systems are uncommon. The most frequent vowel phonemes are / i u a y /, to be followed by / o e O E n�‰ a { A P U � � � H  e Y/ in descending order of frequency. The findings are discussed in terms of the principle of maximal vowel dispersion and defective vowel system. As for the nasal vowels, /a)/ is most frequent, to be followed by / O) e) A) U) o) E) i) u) �) {) ‰) y) P) �)/ in descending order of frequency. The vowel systems of the Chinese dialects are basically consistent with the principle of vowel dispersion. The high frequency of / y/, the low frequencies of / i)�u) � /, and the common appearance of / n�/ are characteristic of the vowel inventories in Chinese.
Publication Year: 2007
Publication Date: 2007-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 9
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