The Nature of Variation in Tone Sandhi Patterns of Shanghai and Wuxi Wu (Frontiers in Chinese Linguistics, 4)

"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."-- Provided by publisher Front Matter ....Pages i-xxii Introduction to Tone Sandhi Variation (Hanbo Yan)....Pages 1-8 Shanghai and Wuxi Tone Sandhi (Hanbo Yan)....Pages 9-25 Factors Affecting Tone Sandhi Application (Hanbo Yan)....Pages 27-42 Experimental Investigation of the Nature of Tone Sandhi Variation in Shanghai (Hanbo Yan)....Pages 43-77 Experimental Investigation of the Nature of Tone Sandhi Variation in Wuxi (Hanbo Yan)....Pages 79-104 General Discussion and Concluding Remarks (Hanbo Yan)....Pages 105-112 Back Matter ....Pages 113-144