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Interactions Between Min and Other Sinitic Languages: Genetic Inheritance and Areal Patterns

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The Palgrave Handbook of Chinese Language Studies

Abstract

This chapter discusses interaction between Min and other Sinitic languages, with a focus on genetic inheritance and areal patterns. The first section is a general introduction to the Min group and its internal classification. The second section reviews studies on interactions between Min and four other Sinitic groupings, namely, Wu, Hakka, Waxiang, and Gan. It is demonstrated that while all four share certain lexical and/or phonological features with Min, these commonalities are of different kinds. The interaction between Min and Gan involves contact-induced areal patterns. In the other cases, while genetic inheritance is a factor, features shared between Min and Waxiang are most likely due to shared retention, while those shared between Min and Southwestern Wu and between Min and Hakka include some shared innovations as well. The last section discusses implications for the linguistic history of Min and directions for future studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chinese Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Ruiqing Shen

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  1. Ruiqing Shen
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

    Zhengdao Ye

Section Editor information

  1. Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia

    Zhengdao Ye

Appendix: Data and Sources

Appendix: Data and Sources

Abbreviation

Location

 

Source

CZ

Chaozhou

潮州

Beijingdaxue (2005)

FZ

Fuzhou

福州

Beijingdaxue (2005)

GT

Gaotang

高唐

Norman (p.c.)

GZ2

Guzhang

古丈

Wu and Shen (2010)

HP

Heping

和平

Norman (1992)

JO

Jianou

建瓯

Beijingdaxue (2005)

JY

Jianyang

建阳

Norman (1969, 1986)

LJ

Linjiang

临江

Akitani (2013, p.c.)

MX

Meixian

梅县

Beijingdaxue (2005) & Norman (1986)

QY

Qingyuan

庆元

Cao et al. (2000)

SB

Shibei

石陂

Akitani (2008)

SC2

Suichang

遂昌

Cao et al. (2000)

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Shen, R. (2022). Interactions Between Min and Other Sinitic Languages: Genetic Inheritance and Areal Patterns. In: Ye, Z. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Chinese Language Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0924-4_33

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