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This book conducts a thorough investigation of the variation in tone sandhi patterns of Shanghai and Wuxi Wu using quantitative rating experiments. Although Shanghai Wu has been well documented, to date there has never been any quantitative study that systematically investigates the factors that influence variability - a research gap this book fills. Further, Wuxi Wu is investigated as an additional case that demonstrates the unique phonological nature of tone sandhi, and how it changes how speakers learn and internalize the variable tone sandhi pattern. The findings presented here will shed new light on important issues of wordhood, the interface of morphosyntax and phonology, and the formal model of variability in phonology.
List of contents
Chapter I Introduction to Tone Sandhi Varation.- Chapter II Shanghai and Wuxi Tone Sandhi.- Chapter III Factors Affecting Tone Sandhi Application.- Chapter IV Experimental Investigation of The Nature of Tone Sandhi Variation in Shanghai.- Chapter V Experimental Investigation of the Nature of Tone Sandhi Variation in Wuxi.- Chapter VI General Discussion and Concluding Remarks.- References.
About the author
Dr. Hanbo Yan currently works at Shanghai International Studies University. His main research interest is in experimental phonology, particularly in how native speakers' tacit knowledge is reflected in their phonological behavior. Further interests include the phonetics-phonology interface and morphosyntax-phonology interface.
Summary
This book conducts a thorough investigation of the variation in tone sandhi patterns of Shanghai and Wuxi Wu using quantitative rating experiments. Although Shanghai Wu has been well documented, to date there has never been any quantitative study that systematically investigates the factors that influence variability – a research gap this book fills. Further, Wuxi Wu is investigated as an additional case that demonstrates the unique phonological nature of tone sandhi, and how it changes how speakers learn and internalize the variable tone sandhi pattern. The findings presented here will shed new light on important issues of wordhood, the interface of morphosyntax and phonology, and the formal model of variability in phonology.
