Katia Chirkova | Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique / French National Centre for Scientific Research (original) (raw)
Books by Katia Chirkova
多续语是川西南藏族多续人使用的语言，主要分布在冕宁县东部安宁河流域。多续语目前只有不到10位老人能够使用，是极高度濒危语言，也是研究程度和公布材料都很少的语言。《实用多续语语法》是第一部比较全面... more 多续语是川西南藏族多续人使用的语言，主要分布在冕宁县东部安宁河流域。多续语目前只有不到10位老人能够使用，是极高度濒危语言，也是研究程度和公布材料都很少的语言。《实用多续语语法》是第一部比较全面地介绍多续语的专著，以教材形式编写，说明多续语语音、词汇、语法的特点，附有课后练习并配套发音光盘。
This book, written with the assistance of Han Zhengkang, is the first-ever comprehensive grammar of the critically endangered Duoxu language. Written in the form of a textbook, it is a step-by-step introduction to the phonology, lexicon, and morpho-syntax of Duoxu.
This book is about Beijing Mandarin, the dialect of Beijing, which despite its official status as... more This book is about Beijing Mandarin, the dialect of Beijing, which despite its official status as the spoken foundation of the national language of China, remains largely unexplored to date. Based on a large collection of spoken data from native speakers of Beijing Mandarin, it comments on the ways Beijing natives use to refer to time, focusing mainly on phenomena which are underrepresented in the linguistic literature. The description concentrates on aspectual particles. Usages that are newly attested in the data are compared to existing accounts of Mandarin, raising issues of polysemy and homonymy for each of these particles. Both synchronic and diachronic aspects are examined. It is demonstrated that some forms that have been considered extinct in Mandarin are alive and kicking in the language of Beijing.
Papers by Katia Chirkova
This paper focuses on tonal development in Baima, a little-studied Tibetic (Tibeto-Burman) langua... more This paper focuses on tonal development in Baima, a little-studied Tibetic (Tibeto-Burman) language of China. Based on newly collected data and an updated phonological analysis, it addresses the phonetic and chronological challenges posited by the previous analysis of tonal developments in Baima by Huang & Zhang (1995). As suggested by historical-comparative evidence (correspondences between Baima and Written Tibetan), the three contrastive tonal categories in Baima have likely arisen through an overlay of the phonation difference in consonants (historically breathy vs. non-breathy) and the phonation difference in vowels (tense vs. lax, with pitch and vowel duration as co-articulated cues). I furthermore argue that the development of a tense/lax distinction is likely broadly shared by the Tibetic languages neighboring Baima. Recognition of such a multidimensional contrast (which may variously implicate differences in phonation, pitch, vowel duration, and vowel quality) provides a unified explanation for a number of seemingly unrelated and unusual characteristics of these Tibetic languages (such as rhyme length and onset aspiration as pathways leading to distinctive low register). The clustering of Tibetic languages with a tense/lax distinction in the historically multilingual area at the border of the present-day Northern Sichuan and Southern Gansu is further brought in connection with local non-Tibetic languages, some of which possibly share a structurally similar voice quality contrast that involves sets of correlated phonetic properties associated with phonatory, tonal, and vowel quality.
Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area, 2023
This paper focuses on stem alternations in Pingwu Baima (Tibetic). It examines a larger corpus of... more This paper focuses on stem alternations in Pingwu Baima (Tibetic). It examines a larger corpus of data than the corpora in previous works and systematically relates alternating verbs to classical WT paradigms. Our data reveal a relatively high number of alternating verbs in Baima, with verbs with two stems constituting the absolute majority of all alternating verbs. A systematic comparison of alternating verbs to classical WT paradigms confirms that stem alternations in Baima regularly reflect OT verb morphology. Such a comparison also reveals a clear tendency toward elimination in Baima of a separate imperative stem of classical paradigms. This tendency toward elimination of the imperative stem has not been commonly reported in modern Tibetic languages. An examination of Baima verb stem alternation in the context of its neighboring Tibetic and non-Tibetic varieties suggests language contact as a possible trigger for this development.
Journal of Chinese Linguistics, 2022
This study investigates acoustic correlates of prominence in Lizu (Tibeto-Burman). Lizu has been ... more This study investigates acoustic correlates of prominence in Lizu (Tibeto-Burman). Lizu has been argued to have a hybrid prosodic system combining lexical tone on monosyllabic words and prominence patterns with stress-like and tonal characteristics on polysyllabic words, although empirical evidence is lacking. This study presents an acoustic investigation of the pitch patterns on disyllabic words in the Kala variety of Lizu (HL, HH, LH). Using the parameters of duration, intensity, and f0, it attempts to sort out different forms of prominence, and to explore their interaction with lexical tone. The measurements are taken from experimental data with eight Lizu speakers (4 male and 4 female). The acoustic results and statistical analyses suggest that the first syllable in Kala Lizu is the position of prominence in all three pitch patterns. Our results are consistent with interpreting the pitch pattern HL as more stress-like (with intensity as an acoustic correlate of stress) and the pitch patterns HH and LH as more tone-like (with stress cued by full realization of lexical tone). This study contributes to a better understanding of the prosodic organization of Kala Lizu and it also suggests methodology for further exploration of other Lizu varieties.
Journal of Historical Linguistics, 2021
Through comparison of regular sound correspondences in three closely related Tibeto-Burman (TB) l... more Through comparison of regular sound correspondences in three closely related Tibeto-Burman (TB) languages, Ersu, Lizu, and Duoxu (collectively "ELD"), informed by external comparison with other TB languages and recent phonetic analyses of the production of voiceless nasals, we reconstruct *fricative-nasal sequences in their common ancestor, Proto-ELD. In the development of these historic clusters, two pathways of change can be recognized. Their difference lies in the divergent relative phasing of velic and oral gestures in the original fricative-nasal sequences: (i) fricative weakening (from a tight cluster): *FN > N ̥ > h̃ > x (ii) fricative strengthening (from a loose cluster): *F-n > *F-t > t > k or *F-n > s The different reflexes observed in Ersu, Lizu, and Duoxu represent different points along these two developmental pathways. These reconstructions and pathways of development have implications for our understanding of both universal (phonetic) and language-specific aspects of change in fricative-nasal sequences. The first pathway makes it possible to explore the process of nasal devoicing beyond voiceless nasals so as to enrich our understanding of nasal devoicing in natural languages. The coexistence of two opposite pathways of change, on the other hand, provides insights into the morphological and syllabic structure of words with contiguous fricative-nasal sequences in ELD languages at different points in time-insights that may be valuable in examining the history of other languages and language families beyond the ELD cluster.
Journal of the International Phonetic Association, 2021
This paper is part of the illustrations of the IPA collection of the Journal of the International... more This paper is part of the illustrations of the IPA collection of the Journal of the International Phonetic Association. It presents a concise account of the phonetic structure of the Baima language (/pêkê/, Chinese 白马语 báimǎyǔ, ISO-639 code bqh), a little-studied Tibeto-Burman (Bodic or Himalayish) language spoken in the southwestern part of the People’s Republic of China.
南开语言学刊, 2021
This paper provides a detailed analysis of sandhi patterns in Ersu (Qiangic, Tibeto-Burman). Usin... more This paper provides a detailed analysis of sandhi patterns in Ersu (Qiangic, Tibeto-Burman). Using an experimental approach, we summarize synchronically productive sandhi patterns and explore the derivational relationship (1) between the two contrastive lexical tones on monosyllabic words and multiple tonal patterns on polysyllabic words, and (2) between tonal patterns on polysyllabic words in isolation and in connected speech. This study contributes to a better understanding of the prosodic organization of Ersu, and provides new data and new insights to understand the typology and diachrony of prosodic systems in Tibeto-Burman languages of the Chinese Southwest.
Language and Linguistics. 語言暨語言學
本文通過語法問卷和長篇語料收集到的材料，以甘洛縣則拉鄉爾蘇話為例，對爾蘇語體貌系統的主要表達手段及其之間的關係進行了探討。本文確定了爾蘇語體系統的核心部分（即完整體與非完整體的對立）以詞彙和派生... more 本文通過語法問卷和長篇語料收集到的材料，以甘洛縣則拉鄉爾蘇話為例，對爾蘇語體貌系統的主要表達手段及其之間的關係進行了探討。本文確定了爾蘇語體系統的核心部分（即完整體與非完整體的對立）以詞彙和派生手段（動詞和動詞前綴）構成。本文指出爾蘇語較次要體的類型（如經驗體等）依靠語法形式手段（體貌標記）表達。本文發現爾蘇語大多數體標記兼表體與示證的意義。最後，本文分別介紹了體貌系統的主要表達手段和相關語料依據。
Convergence is an oft-used notion in contact linguistics and historical linguistics. Yet it is pr... more Convergence is an oft-used notion in contact linguistics and historical linguistics. Yet it is problematic as an explanatory account for the changes it represents. In this study, we model one specific case of convergence (Duoxu, an endangered Tibeto-Burman language with 9 last speakers) to contribute to a more systematic understanding of the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. The goals are (1) to address the role of some linguistic and social factors assumed to have an effect on the process of convergence, and (2) to test the following explanations of empirical observations related to phonological convergence: (a) the loss of phonological segments in a language that has undergone convergence is correlated with the relative frequency and markedness of these segments in the combined bilingual repertoire, and (b) widespread bilingualism is a prerequisite for convergence. The results of our agent-based simulation affirm the importance of frequency and markedness of phonological segments in the process of convergence. At the same time, they suggest that the explanation related to widespread bilingualism may not be valid. Our study suggests computer simulations as a promising tool for investigation of complex cases of language change in contact settings.
Han-Zangyu Xuebao 汉藏语学报 [Journal of Sino-Tibetan Linguistics], 2018
本文作者在冕宁县开展高度濒危藏语多续话的调查期间，发现了多续语料的手稿《凉山州藏族简史：冕宁县藏族多续语之谱》。该手稿由藏族多续人吴万才老先生在生前用汉字记音的方式记录下的多续话词汇与长篇语料组... more 本文作者在冕宁县开展高度濒危藏语多续话的调查期间，发现了多续语料的手稿《凉山州藏族简史：冕宁县藏族多续语之谱》。该手稿由藏族多续人吴万才老先生在生前用汉字记音的方式记录下的多续话词汇与长篇语料组成。该手稿是迄今为止多续话语料数量、种类与范围最广的语料集，反映了20世纪中下叶的多续话面貌，对研究语料材料较少的多续话有着重要意义。本文是介绍吴万才手稿及其内容一系列文章的第一部分，旨在归纳整理手稿的注音汉字标音系统，并简要探讨手稿所反映的较早期多续话与目前调查记录的多续话之间的语音差异。
This paper focuses on an unpublished manuscript “A brief history of the Tibetans of Liangshan Prefecture: The Duoxu Tibetans of Mianning county” by Wu Wancai. The manuscript was discovered during our fieldwork on the critically endangered and virtually undocumented Duoxu language. Wu’s manuscript, whose compilation began in 1955 and spanned nearly 50 years, contains an extensive Duoxu-Chinese wordlist and a number of Duoxu texts (including song lyrics, proverbs, riddles, and narratives), transcribed in Chinese characters. This is the largest collection of language data on Duoxu known to date, which furthermore stem from the time when the language was still widely spoken. It is for that reason of great significance for ongoing research work on Duoxu. This paper is first in a series that will investigate and publish Duoxu data from Wu's manuscript. It focuses on the basic principles of Wu’s Chinese transcriptions of Duoxu and provides an overview of some differences between the Duoxu, as recorded by Wu, and modern Duoxu, as recorded in our fieldwork.
Faits de Langues, 2018
This paper focuses on the morphosyntax of comparison constructions in Lizu, a Tibeto-Burman langu... more This paper focuses on the morphosyntax of comparison constructions in Lizu, a Tibeto-Burman language spoken in Southwest China. The paper has two goals: (1) to provide a synchronic description of four types of comparison constructions: (i) comparative constructions of superiority and inferiority, (ii) superlative constructions of superiority and inferiority, (iii) equative constructions, and (iv) similative constructions, and (2) to place their distinctive characteristics within a larger typological context. Lizu comparison constructions are characterised, on the hand, by the diversity of means of expression, combining morphological and periphrastic markers across construction types (e.g. morphological degree markers in the comparative and superlative constructions vs. periphrastic degree markers in the equative constructions); and, on the other hand, by co-existence of competing constructions (that is, two instances of superlative constructions of superiority and several instances of the equative and similative constructions). From a cross-linguistic perspective, two Lizu comparison constructions stand out: (1) the comparative construction of superiority with a dedicated, etymologically obscure, analytic standard marker and a dedicated bound degree marker (prefix), and (2) the superlative construction of superiority with a dedicated bound degree marker (prefix). Given that these construction types tend to show strong areal distribution where they occur, they are examined in the local areal context, as compared to corresponding constructions in the linguistic neighbors of Lizu: Namuzi, Pumi, Nuosu, Tibetan, and Mandarin. The implications of the findings are discussed in typological and areal perspectives.
This paper focuses on two types of voiceless nasal sounds in Xumi, a Tibeto-Burman language: (1) ... more This paper focuses on two types of voiceless nasal sounds in Xumi, a Tibeto-Burman language: (1) the voiceless aspirated nasals /m̥/ [m̥h̃] and /n̥/ [n̥h̃]; and (2) the voiceless nasal glottal fricative [h̃]. We provide a synchronic description of these two types of sounds, and explore their similarities and differences. Xumi voiceless nasal consonants are described with reference to the voiceless nasal consonants /m̥/ and /n̥/ in Burmese and Kham Tibetan, because Burmese voiceless nasals are the best described type of voiceless nasals, and are therefore used as a reference point for comparison; whereas voiceless nasals in Kham Tibetan, which is in close contact with Xumi, represent a characteristic regional feature. The synchronic description is based on acoustic and aerodynamic measurements (the total duration of the target phonemes, the duration of the voiced period during the target phonemes, mean nasal and oral flow). Our study (i) contributes to a better understanding of voiceless nasals as a type of sound; (ii) provides a first-ever instrumental description (acoustic and aerodynamic) of the voiceless nasal glottal fricative [h̃], as attested in a number of Tibeto-Burman languages of Southwest China; and (iii) suggests a possible phonetic basis for the observed dialectal and diachronic variation between voiceless nasals and [h̃] in some Tibeto-Burman languages.
Language Variation and Change, 2018
Labov’s classic study, The Social Stratification of English in New York City (1966), paved the wa... more Labov’s classic study, The Social Stratification of English in New York City (1966), paved the way for generations of researchers to examine sociolinguistic patterns in many different communities (Bell, Sharma & Britain 2016). But much of this research has focused on Western industrialized communities and major world languages. In this study, we examine whether the Labovian models for age, sex, and social stratification (Labov 1966, 2001; Trudgill 1972, 1974) can be effectively applied to a small and endangered Tibeto-Burman language in southwestern China: Ganluo Ersu. Our quantitative study of consonantal variation among 97 speakers suggests a generalizable principle: When indigenous language communities come into intense contact with a dominant majority language, they are likely to experience contact-induced social stratification reflecting classic Labovian sociolinguistic effects, even in the case of small rural societies traditionally based on kinship social structures and largely egalitarian social patterns.
The Routledge Handbook of Language Revitalization, ed. by Leanne Hinton, Leena Huss, and Gerald Roche, 2018
How can we revitalize a language that is unwritten and nearly extinct, a language that has no doc... more How can we revitalize a language that is unwritten and nearly extinct, a language that has no documentation record and is not officially recognized, and hence lacks any kind of institutionalized support? The chances of successfully revitalizing such a language are slim. One language that meets this dire description is Duoxu, the subject matter of this chapter. Under normal circumstances, revitalization of Duoxu would have little chance to take root. Yet, in spite of weighty objections, revitalization may be possible in the Duoxu case, albeit to a limited degree. Currently, revitalization of Duoxu is in the early stages of implementation. The encouraging lessons of Duoxu are that revitalization always remains a possibility, even under the most unfavorable conditions, and that efforts of individual community members dedicated to the cause can and do make an important difference. What matters is how to sustainably support grassroots revitalization initiatives and make the most out of the potential they offer.
西南民族大学学报 [Journal of Southwest University for Nationalities] , 2017
尔苏语是川西南 20 世纪 80 年代新发现小语种之一。尔苏语高度濒危。本文从濒危语言记录和典藏的 角度出发，讨论了尔苏语拼音方案的构建要点。一是简要介绍尔苏语分布、人口、地方土语; 二是介绍尔... more 尔苏语是川西南 20 世纪 80 年代新发现小语种之一。尔苏语高度濒危。本文从濒危语言记录和典藏的 角度出发，讨论了尔苏语拼音方案的构建要点。一是简要介绍尔苏语分布、人口、地方土语; 二是介绍尔苏语濒 危的主要原因，以及尔苏语典藏和保护的意义和方法; 三是介绍当前尔苏语研究的国际前沿; 四是介绍尔苏语 拼音转写系统的建立以及标准音点的选择; 五是尔苏语拼音转写系统的具体内容。
Ersu is a little-studied, endangered and unwritten Tibeto-Burman language of Southwest China. This paper introduces a romanization system for the Ersu language, and discusses the system's value from the perspective of language endangerment and conservation. The paper comprises five parts. Part 1 provides background information on the Ersu language, including its distribution, number of speakers, and dialectal variation. Part 2 outlines some major factors in Ersu becoming endangered, and it discusses the significance and methodology of its documentation and preservation. Part 3 summarizes previous research on Ersu. Part 4 outlines the major principles underlying the Ersu Romanization System, and the choice of the standard dialect on which it is based. Part 5 introduces the Ersu Romanization System.
This article provides a descriptive overview of the system of evidentiality in Baima, a Tibetic l... more This article provides a descriptive overview of the system of evidentiality in Baima, a Tibetic language spoken at the border of Sichuan and Gansu Provinces, China. The overview is based on first-hand fieldwork data on the variety of Baima as spoken in Pingwu County, Sichuan. It relies on elicited verb paradigms and verb forms occurring in a corpus of traditional stories. The Pingwu Baima evidentiality system is shown to be fairly unique in the Tibetic context in its lexical choices and etymological origins. It is argued to combine features generally found in the Central and Khams varieties (such as a separate egophoric receptive marker) with some unusual developments so far only attested in some Tibetic languages spoken in the border areas between Sichuan and Gansu (the homophony between the indirect evidential and the indefinite marker).
Language and Linguistics, 2017
本文通過語法問卷和長篇語料收集到的材料，以甘洛縣則拉鄉爾蘇話為例，對爾蘇語體貌系統的主要表達手段及其之間的關係進行了探討。本文確定了爾蘇語體系統的核心部分（即完整體與非完整體的對立）以詞彙和派生... more 本文通過語法問卷和長篇語料收集到的材料，以甘洛縣則拉鄉爾蘇話為例，對爾蘇語體貌系統的主要表達手段及其之間的關係進行了探討。本文確定了爾蘇語體系統的核心部分（即完整體與非完整體的對立）以詞彙和派生手段（動詞和動詞前綴）構成。本文指出爾蘇語較次要體的類型（如經驗體等）依靠語法形式手段（體貌助詞）表達。本文發現爾蘇語大多數體助詞兼表體與示證的意義。最後，本文分別介紹了體貌系統的主要表達手段和相關語料依據。
This paper provides an overview of the aspectual organization of Ersu (Qiangic, Tibeto-Burman), as spoken in Zela Township in Ganluo County (Sichuan, China). It uses data collected using TMA questionnaires in combination with traditional narratives. In contrast to previous descriptions (Sun 1982, 1983; Liu 1983; Zhang 2013), we argue for a system in which the basic distinction between perfective and imperfective aspect is expressed by lexical-derivational means: verbal stems and directional prefixes. The expression of other types of aspects (such as experiential, change of state, continuous) relies on periphrastic constructions and is tightly interwoven with modality. Through numerous illustrative examples, the paper provides a detailed description of the meaning and use of prefixed and unprefixed verb stems as well as markers of aspect, modality, and evidentiality.
Journal of Ethonbiology 36.1: 192-214, 2016
This study presents results of interdisciplinary fieldwork in Southwest China by a team of lingui... more This study presents results of interdisciplinary fieldwork in Southwest China by a team of linguists and ethnobotanists. It is based on a comparative analysis of 70 common plant names in five Tibeto-Burman languages spoken in Shuiluo Valley. The discussion focuses on (a) names for locally important field crops and (b) plant names that are shared between two or more languages. We make a preliminary stratification of cognates and loanwords, we advance hypotheses about the sources of loanwords, and we assess the distribution of loanwords against the background of the existing historical and linguistic accounts of the studied languages. The observed patterns shed light on the complex migration history in the area and identify a group of plant names which may originate in a linguistic variety which was once (or still is) native to Shuiluo.
本文对中国西南地区的四川省木里藏族自治县水洛乡的五个藏缅语族语言中70种常见植物的名称进行比较研究，是由一队语言学家和民族植物学家共同参与的跨学科田野调查的结果。本文讨论集中在：（1）当地主要作物的名称；（2）两种或两种以上的语言中形式与意义都相同的植物名称。我们对这两类植物名称进行初步的同源词和借词的划分，提出一些假设来解释借词的来源，并结合关于当地族群及其语言的历史背景情况来分析借词的分布规律。本研究结果不但阐明了水洛河谷地区复杂的人口迁移历史，而且辨明了一组当地独特的植物名称——这些植物名称可能源自于该地区曾经或者依旧存在的语言。
多续语是川西南藏族多续人使用的语言，主要分布在冕宁县东部安宁河流域。多续语目前只有不到10位老人能够使用，是极高度濒危语言，也是研究程度和公布材料都很少的语言。《实用多续语语法》是第一部比较全面... more 多续语是川西南藏族多续人使用的语言，主要分布在冕宁县东部安宁河流域。多续语目前只有不到10位老人能够使用，是极高度濒危语言，也是研究程度和公布材料都很少的语言。《实用多续语语法》是第一部比较全面地介绍多续语的专著，以教材形式编写，说明多续语语音、词汇、语法的特点，附有课后练习并配套发音光盘。
This book, written with the assistance of Han Zhengkang, is the first-ever comprehensive grammar of the critically endangered Duoxu language. Written in the form of a textbook, it is a step-by-step introduction to the phonology, lexicon, and morpho-syntax of Duoxu.
This book is about Beijing Mandarin, the dialect of Beijing, which despite its official status as... more This book is about Beijing Mandarin, the dialect of Beijing, which despite its official status as the spoken foundation of the national language of China, remains largely unexplored to date. Based on a large collection of spoken data from native speakers of Beijing Mandarin, it comments on the ways Beijing natives use to refer to time, focusing mainly on phenomena which are underrepresented in the linguistic literature. The description concentrates on aspectual particles. Usages that are newly attested in the data are compared to existing accounts of Mandarin, raising issues of polysemy and homonymy for each of these particles. Both synchronic and diachronic aspects are examined. It is demonstrated that some forms that have been considered extinct in Mandarin are alive and kicking in the language of Beijing.
This paper focuses on tonal development in Baima, a little-studied Tibetic (Tibeto-Burman) langua... more This paper focuses on tonal development in Baima, a little-studied Tibetic (Tibeto-Burman) language of China. Based on newly collected data and an updated phonological analysis, it addresses the phonetic and chronological challenges posited by the previous analysis of tonal developments in Baima by Huang & Zhang (1995). As suggested by historical-comparative evidence (correspondences between Baima and Written Tibetan), the three contrastive tonal categories in Baima have likely arisen through an overlay of the phonation difference in consonants (historically breathy vs. non-breathy) and the phonation difference in vowels (tense vs. lax, with pitch and vowel duration as co-articulated cues). I furthermore argue that the development of a tense/lax distinction is likely broadly shared by the Tibetic languages neighboring Baima. Recognition of such a multidimensional contrast (which may variously implicate differences in phonation, pitch, vowel duration, and vowel quality) provides a unified explanation for a number of seemingly unrelated and unusual characteristics of these Tibetic languages (such as rhyme length and onset aspiration as pathways leading to distinctive low register). The clustering of Tibetic languages with a tense/lax distinction in the historically multilingual area at the border of the present-day Northern Sichuan and Southern Gansu is further brought in connection with local non-Tibetic languages, some of which possibly share a structurally similar voice quality contrast that involves sets of correlated phonetic properties associated with phonatory, tonal, and vowel quality.
Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area, 2023
This paper focuses on stem alternations in Pingwu Baima (Tibetic). It examines a larger corpus of... more This paper focuses on stem alternations in Pingwu Baima (Tibetic). It examines a larger corpus of data than the corpora in previous works and systematically relates alternating verbs to classical WT paradigms. Our data reveal a relatively high number of alternating verbs in Baima, with verbs with two stems constituting the absolute majority of all alternating verbs. A systematic comparison of alternating verbs to classical WT paradigms confirms that stem alternations in Baima regularly reflect OT verb morphology. Such a comparison also reveals a clear tendency toward elimination in Baima of a separate imperative stem of classical paradigms. This tendency toward elimination of the imperative stem has not been commonly reported in modern Tibetic languages. An examination of Baima verb stem alternation in the context of its neighboring Tibetic and non-Tibetic varieties suggests language contact as a possible trigger for this development.
Journal of Chinese Linguistics, 2022
This study investigates acoustic correlates of prominence in Lizu (Tibeto-Burman). Lizu has been ... more This study investigates acoustic correlates of prominence in Lizu (Tibeto-Burman). Lizu has been argued to have a hybrid prosodic system combining lexical tone on monosyllabic words and prominence patterns with stress-like and tonal characteristics on polysyllabic words, although empirical evidence is lacking. This study presents an acoustic investigation of the pitch patterns on disyllabic words in the Kala variety of Lizu (HL, HH, LH). Using the parameters of duration, intensity, and f0, it attempts to sort out different forms of prominence, and to explore their interaction with lexical tone. The measurements are taken from experimental data with eight Lizu speakers (4 male and 4 female). The acoustic results and statistical analyses suggest that the first syllable in Kala Lizu is the position of prominence in all three pitch patterns. Our results are consistent with interpreting the pitch pattern HL as more stress-like (with intensity as an acoustic correlate of stress) and the pitch patterns HH and LH as more tone-like (with stress cued by full realization of lexical tone). This study contributes to a better understanding of the prosodic organization of Kala Lizu and it also suggests methodology for further exploration of other Lizu varieties.
Journal of Historical Linguistics, 2021
Through comparison of regular sound correspondences in three closely related Tibeto-Burman (TB) l... more Through comparison of regular sound correspondences in three closely related Tibeto-Burman (TB) languages, Ersu, Lizu, and Duoxu (collectively "ELD"), informed by external comparison with other TB languages and recent phonetic analyses of the production of voiceless nasals, we reconstruct *fricative-nasal sequences in their common ancestor, Proto-ELD. In the development of these historic clusters, two pathways of change can be recognized. Their difference lies in the divergent relative phasing of velic and oral gestures in the original fricative-nasal sequences: (i) fricative weakening (from a tight cluster): *FN > N ̥ > h̃ > x (ii) fricative strengthening (from a loose cluster): *F-n > *F-t > t > k or *F-n > s The different reflexes observed in Ersu, Lizu, and Duoxu represent different points along these two developmental pathways. These reconstructions and pathways of development have implications for our understanding of both universal (phonetic) and language-specific aspects of change in fricative-nasal sequences. The first pathway makes it possible to explore the process of nasal devoicing beyond voiceless nasals so as to enrich our understanding of nasal devoicing in natural languages. The coexistence of two opposite pathways of change, on the other hand, provides insights into the morphological and syllabic structure of words with contiguous fricative-nasal sequences in ELD languages at different points in time-insights that may be valuable in examining the history of other languages and language families beyond the ELD cluster.
Journal of the International Phonetic Association, 2021
This paper is part of the illustrations of the IPA collection of the Journal of the International... more This paper is part of the illustrations of the IPA collection of the Journal of the International Phonetic Association. It presents a concise account of the phonetic structure of the Baima language (/pêkê/, Chinese 白马语 báimǎyǔ, ISO-639 code bqh), a little-studied Tibeto-Burman (Bodic or Himalayish) language spoken in the southwestern part of the People’s Republic of China.
南开语言学刊, 2021
This paper provides a detailed analysis of sandhi patterns in Ersu (Qiangic, Tibeto-Burman). Usin... more This paper provides a detailed analysis of sandhi patterns in Ersu (Qiangic, Tibeto-Burman). Using an experimental approach, we summarize synchronically productive sandhi patterns and explore the derivational relationship (1) between the two contrastive lexical tones on monosyllabic words and multiple tonal patterns on polysyllabic words, and (2) between tonal patterns on polysyllabic words in isolation and in connected speech. This study contributes to a better understanding of the prosodic organization of Ersu, and provides new data and new insights to understand the typology and diachrony of prosodic systems in Tibeto-Burman languages of the Chinese Southwest.
Language and Linguistics. 語言暨語言學
本文通過語法問卷和長篇語料收集到的材料，以甘洛縣則拉鄉爾蘇話為例，對爾蘇語體貌系統的主要表達手段及其之間的關係進行了探討。本文確定了爾蘇語體系統的核心部分（即完整體與非完整體的對立）以詞彙和派生... more 本文通過語法問卷和長篇語料收集到的材料，以甘洛縣則拉鄉爾蘇話為例，對爾蘇語體貌系統的主要表達手段及其之間的關係進行了探討。本文確定了爾蘇語體系統的核心部分（即完整體與非完整體的對立）以詞彙和派生手段（動詞和動詞前綴）構成。本文指出爾蘇語較次要體的類型（如經驗體等）依靠語法形式手段（體貌標記）表達。本文發現爾蘇語大多數體標記兼表體與示證的意義。最後，本文分別介紹了體貌系統的主要表達手段和相關語料依據。
Convergence is an oft-used notion in contact linguistics and historical linguistics. Yet it is pr... more Convergence is an oft-used notion in contact linguistics and historical linguistics. Yet it is problematic as an explanatory account for the changes it represents. In this study, we model one specific case of convergence (Duoxu, an endangered Tibeto-Burman language with 9 last speakers) to contribute to a more systematic understanding of the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. The goals are (1) to address the role of some linguistic and social factors assumed to have an effect on the process of convergence, and (2) to test the following explanations of empirical observations related to phonological convergence: (a) the loss of phonological segments in a language that has undergone convergence is correlated with the relative frequency and markedness of these segments in the combined bilingual repertoire, and (b) widespread bilingualism is a prerequisite for convergence. The results of our agent-based simulation affirm the importance of frequency and markedness of phonological segments in the process of convergence. At the same time, they suggest that the explanation related to widespread bilingualism may not be valid. Our study suggests computer simulations as a promising tool for investigation of complex cases of language change in contact settings.
Han-Zangyu Xuebao 汉藏语学报 [Journal of Sino-Tibetan Linguistics], 2018
本文作者在冕宁县开展高度濒危藏语多续话的调查期间，发现了多续语料的手稿《凉山州藏族简史：冕宁县藏族多续语之谱》。该手稿由藏族多续人吴万才老先生在生前用汉字记音的方式记录下的多续话词汇与长篇语料组... more 本文作者在冕宁县开展高度濒危藏语多续话的调查期间，发现了多续语料的手稿《凉山州藏族简史：冕宁县藏族多续语之谱》。该手稿由藏族多续人吴万才老先生在生前用汉字记音的方式记录下的多续话词汇与长篇语料组成。该手稿是迄今为止多续话语料数量、种类与范围最广的语料集，反映了20世纪中下叶的多续话面貌，对研究语料材料较少的多续话有着重要意义。本文是介绍吴万才手稿及其内容一系列文章的第一部分，旨在归纳整理手稿的注音汉字标音系统，并简要探讨手稿所反映的较早期多续话与目前调查记录的多续话之间的语音差异。
This paper focuses on an unpublished manuscript “A brief history of the Tibetans of Liangshan Prefecture: The Duoxu Tibetans of Mianning county” by Wu Wancai. The manuscript was discovered during our fieldwork on the critically endangered and virtually undocumented Duoxu language. Wu’s manuscript, whose compilation began in 1955 and spanned nearly 50 years, contains an extensive Duoxu-Chinese wordlist and a number of Duoxu texts (including song lyrics, proverbs, riddles, and narratives), transcribed in Chinese characters. This is the largest collection of language data on Duoxu known to date, which furthermore stem from the time when the language was still widely spoken. It is for that reason of great significance for ongoing research work on Duoxu. This paper is first in a series that will investigate and publish Duoxu data from Wu's manuscript. It focuses on the basic principles of Wu’s Chinese transcriptions of Duoxu and provides an overview of some differences between the Duoxu, as recorded by Wu, and modern Duoxu, as recorded in our fieldwork.
Faits de Langues, 2018
This paper focuses on the morphosyntax of comparison constructions in Lizu, a Tibeto-Burman langu... more This paper focuses on the morphosyntax of comparison constructions in Lizu, a Tibeto-Burman language spoken in Southwest China. The paper has two goals: (1) to provide a synchronic description of four types of comparison constructions: (i) comparative constructions of superiority and inferiority, (ii) superlative constructions of superiority and inferiority, (iii) equative constructions, and (iv) similative constructions, and (2) to place their distinctive characteristics within a larger typological context. Lizu comparison constructions are characterised, on the hand, by the diversity of means of expression, combining morphological and periphrastic markers across construction types (e.g. morphological degree markers in the comparative and superlative constructions vs. periphrastic degree markers in the equative constructions); and, on the other hand, by co-existence of competing constructions (that is, two instances of superlative constructions of superiority and several instances of the equative and similative constructions). From a cross-linguistic perspective, two Lizu comparison constructions stand out: (1) the comparative construction of superiority with a dedicated, etymologically obscure, analytic standard marker and a dedicated bound degree marker (prefix), and (2) the superlative construction of superiority with a dedicated bound degree marker (prefix). Given that these construction types tend to show strong areal distribution where they occur, they are examined in the local areal context, as compared to corresponding constructions in the linguistic neighbors of Lizu: Namuzi, Pumi, Nuosu, Tibetan, and Mandarin. The implications of the findings are discussed in typological and areal perspectives.
This paper focuses on two types of voiceless nasal sounds in Xumi, a Tibeto-Burman language: (1) ... more This paper focuses on two types of voiceless nasal sounds in Xumi, a Tibeto-Burman language: (1) the voiceless aspirated nasals /m̥/ [m̥h̃] and /n̥/ [n̥h̃]; and (2) the voiceless nasal glottal fricative [h̃]. We provide a synchronic description of these two types of sounds, and explore their similarities and differences. Xumi voiceless nasal consonants are described with reference to the voiceless nasal consonants /m̥/ and /n̥/ in Burmese and Kham Tibetan, because Burmese voiceless nasals are the best described type of voiceless nasals, and are therefore used as a reference point for comparison; whereas voiceless nasals in Kham Tibetan, which is in close contact with Xumi, represent a characteristic regional feature. The synchronic description is based on acoustic and aerodynamic measurements (the total duration of the target phonemes, the duration of the voiced period during the target phonemes, mean nasal and oral flow). Our study (i) contributes to a better understanding of voiceless nasals as a type of sound; (ii) provides a first-ever instrumental description (acoustic and aerodynamic) of the voiceless nasal glottal fricative [h̃], as attested in a number of Tibeto-Burman languages of Southwest China; and (iii) suggests a possible phonetic basis for the observed dialectal and diachronic variation between voiceless nasals and [h̃] in some Tibeto-Burman languages.
Language Variation and Change, 2018
Labov’s classic study, The Social Stratification of English in New York City (1966), paved the wa... more Labov’s classic study, The Social Stratification of English in New York City (1966), paved the way for generations of researchers to examine sociolinguistic patterns in many different communities (Bell, Sharma & Britain 2016). But much of this research has focused on Western industrialized communities and major world languages. In this study, we examine whether the Labovian models for age, sex, and social stratification (Labov 1966, 2001; Trudgill 1972, 1974) can be effectively applied to a small and endangered Tibeto-Burman language in southwestern China: Ganluo Ersu. Our quantitative study of consonantal variation among 97 speakers suggests a generalizable principle: When indigenous language communities come into intense contact with a dominant majority language, they are likely to experience contact-induced social stratification reflecting classic Labovian sociolinguistic effects, even in the case of small rural societies traditionally based on kinship social structures and largely egalitarian social patterns.
The Routledge Handbook of Language Revitalization, ed. by Leanne Hinton, Leena Huss, and Gerald Roche, 2018
How can we revitalize a language that is unwritten and nearly extinct, a language that has no doc... more How can we revitalize a language that is unwritten and nearly extinct, a language that has no documentation record and is not officially recognized, and hence lacks any kind of institutionalized support? The chances of successfully revitalizing such a language are slim. One language that meets this dire description is Duoxu, the subject matter of this chapter. Under normal circumstances, revitalization of Duoxu would have little chance to take root. Yet, in spite of weighty objections, revitalization may be possible in the Duoxu case, albeit to a limited degree. Currently, revitalization of Duoxu is in the early stages of implementation. The encouraging lessons of Duoxu are that revitalization always remains a possibility, even under the most unfavorable conditions, and that efforts of individual community members dedicated to the cause can and do make an important difference. What matters is how to sustainably support grassroots revitalization initiatives and make the most out of the potential they offer.
西南民族大学学报 [Journal of Southwest University for Nationalities] , 2017
尔苏语是川西南 20 世纪 80 年代新发现小语种之一。尔苏语高度濒危。本文从濒危语言记录和典藏的 角度出发，讨论了尔苏语拼音方案的构建要点。一是简要介绍尔苏语分布、人口、地方土语; 二是介绍尔... more 尔苏语是川西南 20 世纪 80 年代新发现小语种之一。尔苏语高度濒危。本文从濒危语言记录和典藏的 角度出发，讨论了尔苏语拼音方案的构建要点。一是简要介绍尔苏语分布、人口、地方土语; 二是介绍尔苏语濒 危的主要原因，以及尔苏语典藏和保护的意义和方法; 三是介绍当前尔苏语研究的国际前沿; 四是介绍尔苏语 拼音转写系统的建立以及标准音点的选择; 五是尔苏语拼音转写系统的具体内容。
Ersu is a little-studied, endangered and unwritten Tibeto-Burman language of Southwest China. This paper introduces a romanization system for the Ersu language, and discusses the system's value from the perspective of language endangerment and conservation. The paper comprises five parts. Part 1 provides background information on the Ersu language, including its distribution, number of speakers, and dialectal variation. Part 2 outlines some major factors in Ersu becoming endangered, and it discusses the significance and methodology of its documentation and preservation. Part 3 summarizes previous research on Ersu. Part 4 outlines the major principles underlying the Ersu Romanization System, and the choice of the standard dialect on which it is based. Part 5 introduces the Ersu Romanization System.
This article provides a descriptive overview of the system of evidentiality in Baima, a Tibetic l... more This article provides a descriptive overview of the system of evidentiality in Baima, a Tibetic language spoken at the border of Sichuan and Gansu Provinces, China. The overview is based on first-hand fieldwork data on the variety of Baima as spoken in Pingwu County, Sichuan. It relies on elicited verb paradigms and verb forms occurring in a corpus of traditional stories. The Pingwu Baima evidentiality system is shown to be fairly unique in the Tibetic context in its lexical choices and etymological origins. It is argued to combine features generally found in the Central and Khams varieties (such as a separate egophoric receptive marker) with some unusual developments so far only attested in some Tibetic languages spoken in the border areas between Sichuan and Gansu (the homophony between the indirect evidential and the indefinite marker).
Language and Linguistics, 2017
本文通過語法問卷和長篇語料收集到的材料，以甘洛縣則拉鄉爾蘇話為例，對爾蘇語體貌系統的主要表達手段及其之間的關係進行了探討。本文確定了爾蘇語體系統的核心部分（即完整體與非完整體的對立）以詞彙和派生... more 本文通過語法問卷和長篇語料收集到的材料，以甘洛縣則拉鄉爾蘇話為例，對爾蘇語體貌系統的主要表達手段及其之間的關係進行了探討。本文確定了爾蘇語體系統的核心部分（即完整體與非完整體的對立）以詞彙和派生手段（動詞和動詞前綴）構成。本文指出爾蘇語較次要體的類型（如經驗體等）依靠語法形式手段（體貌助詞）表達。本文發現爾蘇語大多數體助詞兼表體與示證的意義。最後，本文分別介紹了體貌系統的主要表達手段和相關語料依據。
This paper provides an overview of the aspectual organization of Ersu (Qiangic, Tibeto-Burman), as spoken in Zela Township in Ganluo County (Sichuan, China). It uses data collected using TMA questionnaires in combination with traditional narratives. In contrast to previous descriptions (Sun 1982, 1983; Liu 1983; Zhang 2013), we argue for a system in which the basic distinction between perfective and imperfective aspect is expressed by lexical-derivational means: verbal stems and directional prefixes. The expression of other types of aspects (such as experiential, change of state, continuous) relies on periphrastic constructions and is tightly interwoven with modality. Through numerous illustrative examples, the paper provides a detailed description of the meaning and use of prefixed and unprefixed verb stems as well as markers of aspect, modality, and evidentiality.
Journal of Ethonbiology 36.1: 192-214, 2016
This study presents results of interdisciplinary fieldwork in Southwest China by a team of lingui... more This study presents results of interdisciplinary fieldwork in Southwest China by a team of linguists and ethnobotanists. It is based on a comparative analysis of 70 common plant names in five Tibeto-Burman languages spoken in Shuiluo Valley. The discussion focuses on (a) names for locally important field crops and (b) plant names that are shared between two or more languages. We make a preliminary stratification of cognates and loanwords, we advance hypotheses about the sources of loanwords, and we assess the distribution of loanwords against the background of the existing historical and linguistic accounts of the studied languages. The observed patterns shed light on the complex migration history in the area and identify a group of plant names which may originate in a linguistic variety which was once (or still is) native to Shuiluo.
本文对中国西南地区的四川省木里藏族自治县水洛乡的五个藏缅语族语言中70种常见植物的名称进行比较研究，是由一队语言学家和民族植物学家共同参与的跨学科田野调查的结果。本文讨论集中在：（1）当地主要作物的名称；（2）两种或两种以上的语言中形式与意义都相同的植物名称。我们对这两类植物名称进行初步的同源词和借词的划分，提出一些假设来解释借词的来源，并结合关于当地族群及其语言的历史背景情况来分析借词的分布规律。本研究结果不但阐明了水洛河谷地区复杂的人口迁移历史，而且辨明了一组当地独特的植物名称——这些植物名称可能源自于该地区曾经或者依旧存在的语言。
The Sino-Tibetan Languages (Second Edition), edited by Randy J. LaPolla and Graham Thurgood, Ch. 42, 2016
Lizu is a little-studied Tibeto-Burman language spoken by ca. 7,000 people in Sichuan Province, C... more Lizu is a little-studied Tibeto-Burman language spoken by ca. 7,000 people in Sichuan Province, China. This grammatical sketch is based on first-hand fieldwork data on the Lizu variety spoken Muli County. Brief as it may be, this sketch is the first comprehensive description of Lizu covering the basic phonological, morphological, and syntatic structures. In view of the scarcity of published Lizu data, the description provides numerous example sentences, taken from natural narrative texts, to illustrate the most salient points of Lizu grammar.
Encyclopedia of Chinese Languages and Linguistics, ed. by Rint Sybesma, Wolfgang Behr, Zev Handel, and James Tai
Encyclopedia of Chinese Languages and Linguistics, ed. by Rint Sybesma, Wolfgang Behr, Zev Handel, and James Tai, 2017
![Research paper thumbnail of Review of Zhōngguó xīn fāxiàn yǔyán yánjiū cóngshū 中国新发现语言研究丛书 [Studies of newly discovered languages of China]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/69142553/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](China Review International, 2007
Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman area, vol. 31.1 (April 2008): 139-145., 2008
Duoxu, Lizu, and Ersu are three closely related Tibeto-Burman (TB) languages spoken in close prox... more Duoxu, Lizu, and Ersu are three closely related Tibeto-Burman (TB) languages spoken in close proximity in Sichuan. They are recognized to be a close-knit taxonomic cluster sharing a high proportion of their lexicons and exhibiting a high degree of regularity of correspondence across cognate sets (Sūn 1983, 2001; Yu 2012; Chirkova 2014a).
Until recently, reliable data on Duoxu, which is moribund, was not available, hampering the systematic comparison of Duoxu with the better-described and analyzed Lizu and Ersu languages. But in recent years, the ongoing collection, analysis, and publication of Duoxu data (e.g. Huang & Yin 2012; Chirkova 2014a; 2015; Chirkova & Han 2016) has opened up new avenues of historical-comparative analysis, which in turn provide an opportunity to re-evaluate the genetic position of the cluster within Tibeto-Burman.
The first part of this paper makes use of the most accurate and up-to-date data on Duoxu (including Chirkova 2015, a sketch of Duoxu accompanied by sound files) to provide a systematic comparison of the tone systems of Duoxu and Proto-Lolo-Burmese, which show remarkably regular correspondences (as already suggested by Chirkova 2014b). Moreover, the historical development of the Duoxu tone system can be closely correlated with the conditioning factors for historical tone splits within Lolo-Burmese, such as *ʔ-, *s-, and *C- prefixation (Matisoff 1972; Bradley 1979). In short, it appears that the Duoxu tone system is derivable from the tone system of Proto-Lolo-Burmese. This implies an especially close historical connection between Duoxu and the Lolo-Burmese family.
The further implications of this close connection are discussed in the second part of the paper. The genetic position of the recognized Duoxu-Lizu-Ersu cluster within the TB language family has been disputed. For instance, Nishida (1973, 1976) sees a close link between Duoxu and Lolo-Burmese languages, whereas other scholars link these languages to Qiangic and Naish (e.g. Sūn 2001; Jacques & Michaud 2011; Yu 2012). Although it has been argued based on segmental correspondences that the Duoxu-Lizu-Ersu cluster is closest to Lolo-Burmese (Chirkova & Handel 2013), the tone systems of Lizu and Ersu have not been amenable to systematic comparison with other TB languages. This is likely the result of relatively late large-scale shifts from purely lexical tonal systems to polysyllabic prosodic-prominence systems in those two languages, shifts that have significantly distorted the historical tone systems (cf. Chirkova and Chen 2013; Chirkova et al. 2015).
Now that the close connection between Duoxu and Lolo-Burmese tone systems can be firmly established, the argument that the Duoxu-Lizu-Ersu cluster is genetically closest to Lolo-Burmese can be advanced in considerably strengthened form. Whether or not the cluster should be considered a branch of Lolo-Burmese proper, or a member of a larger “para-Lolo-Burmese” unit, is left as a matter for further investigation.
Presentation at the The 3rd Workshop on the Tibeto-Burman languages of Sichuan, Paris, September... more Presentation at the The 3rd Workshop on the Tibeto-Burman languages of Sichuan, Paris, September 2-4, 2013, part 1
Presentation at the research seminar "Expressions des comparaisons d’égalité et de similitude" (CNRS-LLACAN/SEDYL), December 7, Paris, France, 2015
Notre présentation porte sur les moyens d'exprimer la comparaison d'égalité et de similitude en l... more Notre présentation porte sur les moyens d'exprimer la comparaison d'égalité et de similitude en lizu, une langue tibéto-birmane (qianguique) parlée au sud-ouest de la République Populaire de Chine. La présentation se base sur le questionnaire "Towards a Questionnaire on Comparison" par Chamoreau & Treis (version 05/02/2015). Nous analysons en détail l'emploi du marqueur de standard /pɐ/ et de la construction avec le marqueur agentif et nous examinons l'ordre des éléments dans les expressions de la comparaison d'égalité et de similitude. L'objectif final est d'essayer de situer le lizu par rapport aux typologies existantes.
This study is a report of an experiment investigating the prosodic system of Lizu (Tibeto-Burman)... more This study is a report of an experiment investigating the prosodic system of Lizu (Tibeto-Burman). Lizu combines lexical tone on monosyllabic words and a hybrid system of tone and stress on polysyllabic words and compounds. The phonemic status of the lexical tones is supported by minimal pair evidence, but no comparable evidence has been found for the prominence patterns. The goal of the experiment is to seek evidence for the validity of the tripartite classification of the prominence patterns. The experiment is based on 15 near-minimal triplets of disyllabic words. The duration, intensity, and f0 of each word were extracted using Praat and superimposed over a disyllabic sequence /aa/. Ten native Lizu speakers listened to the synthesized stimuli and identified which word, among three choices per triplet, they heard. Results showed a well-above-chance level of correct identification rate (77%), thereby lending support to the tripartite classification of the prominence patterns.
This is an updated written version of the presentation "Diachronic Developments of Voiceless Nasals in Ersu, Lizu, and Related Languages" at the ICSTLL-46, Dartmouth, August 8-10, 2013
Ersu, Lizu and Duoxu (collectively ELD) are three closely related, little-studied Tibeto- Burman ... more Ersu, Lizu and Duoxu (collectively ELD) are three closely related, little-studied Tibeto- Burman languages of Sichuan Province in China. This study presents one significant new finding for the reconstruction of Proto-ELD: the existence of voiceless nasal onsets. This finding not only illuminates the broader problem of classification of the lesser-known languages of the area whose genetic and contact affiliations remain obscure, it also suggests the existence of a universal pathway of sequenced changes related to the development and loss of voiceless nasals in languages of the world. More generally, the study provides further insights into the synchronic and diachronic aspects of voiceless nasals, a type of sound that remains somewhat poorly described and poorly understood due to its relative rarity in languages of the world.
Ersu, Lizu and Duoxu (collectively ELD) are three closely related, little-studied Tibeto-Burman ... more Ersu, Lizu and Duoxu (collectively ELD) are three closely related, little-studied Tibeto-Burman [TB] languages of Sichuan Province in China. Their position within the broader TB family is a matter of dispute. Recent analyses variously link them to other lesser-known TB languages of Sichuan (known under the term Qiangic, Sūn 2001a) or consider them more closely related to the Naish languages (Bradley 2008, 2012; Jacques & Michaud 2011). This study presents one significant new finding for the reconstruction of Proto-ELD (going beyond the conclusions of Yu 2012): the existence of voiceless nasal onsets. This finding not only illuminates the broader problem of classification of the languages of the area, it also suggests the existence of a universal pathway of sequenced changes related to the development and loss of voiceless nasals in languages of the world.
The study makes use of a significant amount of new data arising from recent fieldwork. The conclusions are based on a combination of (i) the techniques of the comparative method within the ELD cluster, (ii) external comparison with cognates elsewhere in Tibeto-Burman, and (iii) analysis of universal phonetic mechanisms and constraints.
Voiceless nasals are posited based on cognate sets like the following for ‘ripe’, showing a correspondence between a voiceless fricative in Ersu, a voiceless nasal approximant in Lizu, and a nasal stop in Duoxu:
Ersu /(dɛ³¹-)xe⁵¹/, Lizu /(de³³-)h̃e⁵¹/, Duoxu /me³⁴/
The reconstruction is supported by cognate forms elsewhere in TB (for example, Written Burmese /m̥ɛ1/ ‘ripe’ and Written Tibetan smyin ‘ripe’). In combination with recent acoustic studies of voiceless nasals in several different TB languages, it is argued that ELD developments are part of a general pathway of change that can be schematized as:
*sN > *N̥N > *N̥ > h̃ > x
While the development of voiceless nasals within Tibeto-Burman is not uncommon, the high degree of consistency within ELD that allows for the regular reconstruction of Proto-ELD voiceless nasals in a particular subset of lexical items constitutes an innovation that suggests that the ELD cluster is a legitimate taxonomic node within TB that may not be as closely aligned with other TB languages of Sichuan as previously thought. We further suggest that the developments of nasal initials may be used as a general diagnostic tool to help sort out the relationships among lesser-known languages of Sichuan whose genetic and contact affiliations remain obscure.
More generally, the study provides further insights into the synchronic and diachronic aspects of voiceless nasals, a type of sound that remains somewhat poorly described and poorly understood due to its relative rarity in languages of the world.
This chapter provides an overview of vowel harmony systems, as reported for some languages of the... more This chapter provides an overview of vowel harmony systems, as reported for some languages of the Sino-Tibetan language family.