Fuzhou Dialect Dictionary: Modern Chinese Dialect Dictionary · Volume

Author: Li Rong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-12-01
Features: The requirements for a dialect dictionary are twofold: one is to prepare conditions for a comprehensive dialect dictionary, and the other is to reflect the characteristics of the dialect. The content of a dialect dictionary is divided into three parts: the main body is the dictionary proper, preceded by an introduction and followed by a category index and a stroke index of entries. The introduction generally includes the following eight items:
1. The history, geography, and population of the local area.
2. The geographical and age differences within the dialect, with the pronunciation in this dictionary classified by dialectal groups.
3. The phonology (consonants, vowels, and tones) of the dialect, including continuous changes in phonology. If there are variations, their patterns and functions are explained.
4. A table of single-word pronunciations, which reflects the construction of word sounds through the combination of consonants, vowels, and tones. This table can be used to verify whether the established phonological system is comprehensive and whether any sounds are difficult to arrange. Words that were traditionally pronounced as light tones or onomatopoeic words that fall outside the general phonological system can be explained before the table without being included in it. Pay attention to their usage when they function as independent syllables. Carefully investigate the meaning of the sounds represented by the blank spaces in the table and record all words that have a sound and meaning but no common written form. This is an effective method for collecting linguistic data. Words that are not written but only spoken are often commonly used in spoken language and can supplement the shortcomings of single-word and word surveys.
5. The characteristics of the dialect in terms of phonology, grammar, and other aspects. Characteristics refer to the features that distinguish this dialect from other dialects, especially neighboring ones.
6. General rules, explaining the methods of entry selection, pronunciation annotation, and definition in the dictionary, the distinction between large and small characters, the usage of various symbols, and so on.
7. Annotations for commonly used words in example sentences in the dictionary.
8. A table of syllables.
The main body of the dictionary is arranged by pronunciation, following the order of the dialect's vowels, consonants, and tones. For convenience of reference, there are two indexes after the main body. The category index is largely based on the classification and order of the Linguistic Survey of Chinese Dialects.