Xining Dialect Dictionary

Author: Li Rong, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-12-01
Features: The requirements for a regional dialect dictionary include two aspects: 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 regional 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 entry first characters. The introduction generally includes the following eight items:
1. The local history, geography, and population.
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 monosyllabic phonetic table, which reflects the construction of syllable sounds by combining consonants, vowels, and tones. This table can be used to verify the comprehensiveness of the phonemic system and identify any sounds that may not fit into the table. Words that were traditionally pronounced as light tones or onomatopoeic words outside the general phonetic system can be explained before the table without being included in it. Pay attention to their usage when they function as independent syllables. Carefully examine the meaning of the sounds represented by the empty 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 spoken frequently are often common in spoken language and can supplement the deficiencies of monosyllabic and word surveys.
5. The characteristics of the dialect in terms of phonology and grammar. Characteristics refer to the features that distinguish this dialect from other dialects, especially neighboring ones.
6. General notes, explaining the methods of entry selection, phonetic annotation, and definitions in the dictionary, the distinction between large and small characters, and the usage of various symbols, etc.
7. Annotations of commonly used words in example sentences in the dictionary.
8. A phonetic table. The dictionary proper is arranged by syllable sounds in the order of vowels, consonants, and tones of the local dialect. 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 Dialect Survey Word List.