Huizhou dialect
Dialect of Chinese spoken in Huizhou, Guangdong
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Huizhou dialect[2] (simplified Chinese: 惠州话; traditional Chinese: 惠州話; pinyin: Huìzhōuhuà) is a Sinitic variety spoken in and around Huicheng District, the traditional urban centre of Huizhou, Guangdong.[3] The locals also call the variety Bendihua (simplified Chinese: 本地话; traditional Chinese: 本地話; pinyin: Běndìhuà; lit. 'local speech') and distinguish it from the varieties spoken in Meixian and Danshui, Huiyang, which they call Hakka (simplified Chinese: 客家话; traditional Chinese: 客家話; pinyin: Kèjiāhuà).[3][4]
| Huizhou | |
|---|---|
| 惠州话 / 惠州話 | |
| Native to | China |
| Region | Huizhou, Guangdong |
Native speakers | 110,000 (2002)[1] |
| Chinese characters Pha̍k-fa-sṳ | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
hak-hui Huizhou | |
| Glottolog | huiz1243 Huizhou |
| Linguasphere | 79-AAA-gai 79-AAA-gaj |
Classification
The classification of the Huizhou dialect is disputed because it shows characteristics of both Yue and Hakka. Most scholars consider the Huizhou dialect a dialect of Hakka with intense influence from Cantonese,[5] but some scholars, most notably Liu Shuxin, consider it to be a dialect of Yue.[3]
The first edition of the Language Atlas of China puts it into its own subgroup under Hakka known as the Huizhou subgroup (惠州片; Huìzhōu piàn).[6] In the second edition, it is still classified as a dialect of Hakka, but it is placed under the Mei–Hui cluster (梅惠小片; Méi-Huì xiǎopiàn) of the Yue–Tai subgroup (粤台片; 粵臺片; Yuè-Tái piàn).[7]
Liu Shuxin groups it together with other similar dialects spoken around the middle and upper reaches of the Dong River, including the Heyuan dialect, into the Hui–He branch (惠河系; Huì-Hé xì) of Yue.[8] Chang Song-hing and Zhuang Chusheng propose a similar grouping called the Hui–He subgroup (惠河片; Huì-Hé piàn), but they classify the group as Hakka.[9] Lau Chunfat, considering this group of dialects distinct from Hakka or Yue, argues for a distinct branch of Sinitic called Huizhou–Shuiyuan.[2]
Phonology
Grammar
Verbal aspect
The Huizhou dialect has several aspectual markers that attach to the verb as suffixes:[16][17][18]
| Aspect | Marker |
|---|---|
| Progressive | 紧 / 緊 /kin˧˥/, 稳 / 穩 /ũn˧˥/ |
| Continuous | 住 /tsʰy˧˩/ |
| Perfective | 抛 / 拋 /pʰau˧ ~ au˧ ~ ei˧/, 阿 /a˧/, □ /ei˥/ |
| Experiential | 过 / 過 /kɔ˨˩˧/ |
Pronouns
The Huizhou dialect has the following personal pronouns. The plural is formed by a tone change.[19]
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st person | 我 /ŋɔi˨˩˧/ | 我 /ŋɔi˧˥/ |
| 2nd person | 你 /ni˨˩˧/ | 你 /ni˧˥/ |
| 3rd person | 佢 /kʰy˨/ | 佢 /kʰy˧˥/ |
Vocabulary
The Huizhou dialect has many cognates with Yue and/or Hakka (cognates with Huizhou are shaded in blue):[20]
| English | Huizhou | Guangzhou (Yue) | Meixian (Hakka) | Putonghua |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| fly (insect) | 乌蝇 / 烏蠅 /ũ˧ zən˨/ | 乌蝇 / 烏蠅 wu1 jing1 | 乌蝇 / 烏蠅 vu1 yin2 | 苍蝇 / 蒼蠅 cāngyíng |
| house | 屋 /ək˦˥/ | 屋 uk1 | 屋 vug5 | 房子 fángzi |
| sleep | 𰥛觉 / 瞓覺 /hun˨˩˧ kau˨˩˧/ | 𰥛觉 / 瞓覺 fan3 gaau3 | 睡目 soi4 mug5 | 睡觉 / 睡覺 shuìjiào |
| see | 睇 /tʰiɛ˧˥/ | 睇 tai2 | 看 kon4 | 看 kàn |
| maize | 包粟 /pau˧ sək˦˥/ | 粟米 suk1 mai5 | 包粟 bau1 xiug5 | 玉米 yùmǐ |
| younger brother | 老弟 /lau˧˥ tʰiɛ˨˩˧/ | 细佬 / 細佬 sai3 lou2 | 老弟 lau3 tai1 | 弟弟 dìdi |
| water chestnut | 马蹄 / 馬蹄 /ma˨˩˧ tʰiɛ˨/ | 马蹄 / 馬蹄 maa5 tai2 | 荸荠 / 荸薺 bíqi | |
| 马荠 / 馬薺 /ma˨˩˧ tsʰi˨/ | 马荠 / 馬薺 ma1 qi2 | |||
| together | 一齐 / 一齊 /ĩt˦˥ tsʰiɛ˨/ | 一齐 / 一齊 jat1 cai4 | 一起 yīqǐ | |
| 一下 /ĩt˦˥ ha˧˩/ | 一下 yid5 ha4 |