Dialectal Phonology and Sound Changes

方言音韻同語音變化

About this concept

Understanding ongoing sound changes in modern Cantonese: n/l merger, ng-deletion in initials, tone merging in younger speakers, and awareness of 'lazy pronunciation' (懶音) vs conservative forms.

In Settemila Lingue, this concept generates a practice deck of ~30 cards at level C2.

Examples

我 ngo5 → o5 (ng-initial loss)I: standard vs 'lazy' pronunciation

你 nei5 → lei5 (n/l merger)you: standard vs merged initial

國 gwok3 → gok3 (gw- simplification)country: rounded vs simplified initial

Tone 2/5 merger in young speakersRising tones merging in newer generations

Prerequisite

The Six TonesA1

More C2 concepts

Advanced Pragmatic Strategies進階語用策略 Regional and Generational Variation地域同年代差異 Formal and Bureaucratic Register正式同官方語體 Cantonese Opera and Cultural Expressions粵劇同文化表達 Cantonese Humor and Wordplay廣東話幽默同語言遊戲

Want to practice Dialectal Phonology and Sound Changes and more Cantonese grammar? Create a free account to study with spaced repetition.

Get Started Free