ChineseLesson 1 of 2 in the course Chinese phonology

Standard Chinese Syllables, Tones, and Prosody

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 4 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces the basic components of Standard Chinese pronunciation and the consonant system. Understanding how consonants are described helps explain both pinyin spelling and variation among speakers.

Standard Chinese pronunciation historically derives from the Beijing dialect of Mandarin, but speakers may retain features of their local varieties. Broad pronunciation variation does not change the central structure of the sound system. Announcers in national television and radio are selected for their ability to use a standard accent.

All flashcards

What does aspiration mean?
Aspiration is a brief release of air after a consonant. In many Standard Chinese plosive and affricate pairs, aspiration distinguishes the two sounds more importantly than voicing does.
How does pinyin b differ from p in the pair /p/ and /pʰ/?
Pinyin b represents the unaspirated sound, while p represents the aspirated sound. The spelling should not be interpreted as a simple English-style voiced-versus-voiceless contrast.
Which consonants commonly occur as syllable codas?
The principal consonant codas are /n/ and /ŋ/. A rhotic coda /ɚ/ also occurs in relevant syllables.
What are the pinyin j, q, and x sounds?
They represent the alveolo-palatal series, conventionally transcribed [t͡ɕ, t͡ɕʰ, ɕ]. Some speakers have palatalized dental-like variants.
Why might retroflex sounds vary between speakers?
Some speakers, particularly those whose native dialect lacks retroflexes, may replace them with dental sounds. The articulation and phonological classification of the series also vary among descriptions.

Quiz questions

  1. Which pattern is commonly used to represent the structure of a Standard Chinese syllable?Answer: (CG)V(X)T, with optional onset, glide, and coda positions.
  2. How is the first syllable usually pronounced when two third-tone syllables occur consecutively?Answer: With a rising, second-tone-like contour.
  3. What happens to 不 (bù) before a fourth-tone syllable?Answer: It changes to second tone, as in búshì.
  4. How is 一 (yī) usually pronounced before a first-, second-, or third-tone syllable?Answer: With fourth tone, as in yìtiān and yìqǐ.
  5. What pitch pattern is characteristic of the first tone in Standard Chinese?Answer: High and level, typically around 55 or 44.

Based on the Wikipedia article Standard Chinese phonology, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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