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This book presents a comparative reconstruction of the common phonology of the Chinese dialects using representative data from living dialects. The resulting phonology includes all categories and phonological distinctions that are represented in the dialect data. It departs from the tradition of using philological sources and non-Chinese borrowings as the basis for a reconstructed system. Based on a strict comparative methodology, the phonology presented encapsulates the shared phonology of the dialects and reflects the real-world distinctions and categories found in the living dialects. For example, the initials preserve the tripartite division that includes voiced obstruents seen in Wu dialects; the finals are comparatively drawn based on the collective dialect data; and the syllable codas preserve the three-way contrasts of consonant stop endings seen in the Cantonese dialects. The data presented allows readers to observe the basis for all of the distinction and categories included in the common phonology and the relationship of that phonology to all of the dialects, and as a result to identify the dialects’ disparate developments and evolution. The English translation also includes innovative elements that render it even more useful for researchers than the Chinese original. The book is primarily intended for scholars and researchers investigating the Chinese dialects and their relationships, and the history of Chinese. It is also useful for scholars of Chinese history and literature who need a handy resource providing essential information on the historical phonology of Chinese.

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Introduction I. The theory and method behind the Common Phonology II. The nature and composition of the Common Phonology of the Chinese dialects 1. The initials of the Common Phonology 2. The finals of the Common Phonology 3. The tones of the Common Phonology Guidelines for the Data Tables Main Text and Data 1. o, uo 2. a, ea 3. ua 4. e, ie, ye 5. u, y 276. ai, oi, eai, uai, uoi 7. ei, uei 8. I, ui 9. ou 10. au, eau, iau 11. au, iau 12. om, op, am, ap 13. eam, eap, iem, iep 14. am, ap, im, ip 15. on, ot, uon, uot 16. an, at 17. ean, eat, uan, uat 18. ien, iet, yan, yet 19. an,at, un, ut 20. in, it, yn, yt 21. an, ok, ean, eok 22. uan, uok, ian, iok 23. en, ek, uen, uak, uek 24. ien, iek, yak, yen 25. an, ak, uan, uak 26. in, ik, yik 27. un, uk, on, ouk 28. yn, yk, ion, iouk References Alphabetical Index Postface