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III. Analysis and Interpretation of the 'Phags-pa Alphabet
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III Analysis and Interpretation of the 'Phags-pa Alphabet The analysis and interpretation of the 'Phags-pa alphabet involves four different but interrelated issues. Of these, the one about which there is the most agreement is the mechanical functioning of the script. The second area comprises the basic assumptions of the investigator about the historical and sociolinguistic nature of the underlying language. The third, concerning which there was in traditional times much discussion but about which there is now considerable agreement, is the paleographic origins of the individual graphemes. Fourth is the actual phonetic interpretation of the graphemes. This is the area of maximum disagreement among specialists, but even here there is consensus on many issues.1 In the present chapter, we will begin by discussing the first and second of these four topics. The third and fourth ones will then be dealt with seriatim as we discuss the individual letters of the alphabet. 3.1 The Mechanical Functioning of the Alphabet The 'Phags-pa script is written vertically. The constituent elements of individual syllables are composed vertically, and the resulting syllables then proceed down the page from top to bottom. Lines most often progress from left to right. Graphically, there are two syllable types in the 'Phags-pa writing system. The first of these, which accounts for less than 1% of possible syllables, has no initial consonant at all. There are only three such syllable types, of which the following are examples:2 284. -::?5 u shang 1i 32 763. A 0 qu ~ 437. ~ on qu m The 'Phags-pa Alphabet The second syllable type, which comprises over 99% of the syllables in the system, consists at the minimum of an initial consonant or semivowel, which serves as the "anchor" of the syllable. In the manner of Indic alphabets, if no other vocalic information is added, the initial consonant or semivowel embodies an inherent vowel a. For example, the letter ~ th-, when written alone, will yield: S2. ~ tha ru ~ The inherent a is overridden by the addition of a vowel sign, which is written below the anchoring consonant. An example is the following, where the vowel sign A 0 has been added: 734. ~ tho ping 1m A medial semivowel can be added between the consonant and any vowel letters or in the presence of inherent a. In the following, the semivowel ~ w has been added between th- and -0: 748. ~ thwo ping ~ Two diacritics or diacritic-like elements may also be added to certain of the vowels to further modify them. These will be discussed in section 3.3.9 below. Final consonants and semivowels can be added at the end of a syllable. In the following example, the consonant 'OJ m has been added to the syllable tha: 653. ~ tham ping ~ The system lacks any form of tonal marking. As mentioned in Chapter 1, in the MGZY text characters are arranged in tonally identified homophone groups. But when the script is actually used, as for example in the inscriptions, it is completely toneless. 33 [3.238.64.201] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 06:02 GMT) A Handbook of 'Phags-pa Chinese 3.2 Assumptions Regarding the History and Nature of 'Phags-pa Chinese We must begin this section on a negative note. First, as outlined in section 1.5 of Chapter 1, there appears to be no historical basis for the common claim that 'Phags-pa Chinese was the language or dialect of the city of Dadu. No actual historical evidence has ever been offered for this claim; and, on close examination, there appears to be none. On the contrary, all available indications suggest that this language was already in existence before the formation of the imperial metropolis as it existed in Yuan times. Furthermore, no concrete linguistic or demographic evidence has ever been adduced that ties 'Phags-pa Chinese directly to the local vernaculars spoken in the area of the pre-Dadu JIn-time city of Zhongdu. If there is such evidence, no cogent or detailed presentation of it has ever appeared in print. Second, it is universally recognized that the sound system embodied in the Chinese 'Phags-pa orthography differs both in broad outline and in detail from the structural framework underlying the Zhongyuan ylnyun, whatever that text is assumed to represent.3 Though opinions differ about the reasons for this divergence, its existence as such is incontrovertible and has in fact never been questioned. And, third, to our knowledge no historical, demographic, or linguistic...