A comparative phonological analysis of the Cenchuan and Changsha Xiang dialects

This paper aims to present a number of special phonological phenomena in a Sinitic language: the Cenchuan dialect. Belonging to the Xiang group, the Cenchuan dialect exhibits several phonological characteristics that are rarely seen within this group. In order to explain these “atypical” features, we have conducted a phonological comparison between the Cenchuan dialect and a representative Xiang dialect: the Changsha dialect. We seek to provide a plausible explanation for these unique phonological features in Cenchuan via a comparison with Middle Chinese and other Sinitic languages from the same area in terms of their consonantic, vocalic, and tonal differences. Our hypothesis is that the phonological specificities of the Cenchuan dialect can be explained by the retention of Middle Chinese and the influences of other Sinitic languages.