OF PROVINCIAL VARIATIONS. Relative to Provincial Variations, they will of course be numerous, and, in some instances, differ widely from each other, as do the dialects of the different counties in England. Among these, the most important to our own countrymen is that spoken in and around Canton. The pronuncia tion varies however, even in this province: in the petty district of Hyangsan, within which Macao is situated, the pronunciation varies from that of Canton; for while it retains most of the variations of that dialect, it adds several of its own, it gives a full nasal sound to the last power of the first series, pronouncing yee, just, right, ngee; and confounds the ts or 我 sixth series, with the ch or third series, pronouncing tso, the right hand, cho. These, with some other variations, are said to render their pronunciation uncouth and vulgar even in the ears of the inhabitants of Canton. Thus, variations in the dialect of many small towns and villages in England, render it quite uncouth to the inhabitants of the county-town or city, although theirs may differ sufficiently from that of London. In the Canton pronunciation the variations relative to the Initials are few: the chief are, that the last power of the fseries they pronounce min stead of w, (hence Woo, the founder of the Tchyeu dynasty, they call Moo ;) and they seldom add ng to the first power of the eighth series; but ngai, love, they pronounce oi. In the Finals, a great variation is observable. In the First and Second finals, it is but small; but the Third open primary and secondary finals, kang and kyang, are both changed to kong. The Fourth, king, is changed for keng. The Fifth, kee, is varied little or nothing; but the Sixth, kao, is pronounced kou; and kyao, its secondary final, kao. The Seventh undergoes a change of nearly the same nature; kai, becomes koi, and its secondary final kyai, is pronounced kai. The Eighth series is altered but little. The open final of the Ninth, kin, is pronounced kum; hence kin, gold, is changed for kum, and sin, the heart,.for sum; but this change of n for m affects only a few monosyllables: its close primary final kyoon, is changed to kwun. In the Tenth the final n is changed to m in a few instances, and kwan is pronounced koon. The Eleventh open secondary final kyeu is pronounced kou, as well as the primary one; but the Twelfth ko, undergoes little alteration. The Canton pronunciation further changes the obscure final ě into p, t, or k, in various words of the fourth tone. These, which are the chief variations, stand as follows: These instances comprize nearly all the points of difference; but though easily enumerated, they apply to so many of the monosyllables, that the dialect itself differs widely from the general system. From these, however, an idea can be easily formed of the nature of Provincialis ns in China: in some instances certain of the initial sounds are used as finals, as k, t, p and m; in others one vowel or diphthong is exchanged for another, as a for o, and ao for ou; but scarely any new sound is added to the system already detailed. Yet although certain final sounds are added in the provincial dialects, the system is not on the whole a gainer. In that of Canton the change of a for, o, and the almost general omission of the interjected y, nearly annihilate several finals, and contract the system much more than the added finals enlarge it; to which the loss of the initial contributes not a little. In variety therefore, this dialect is still exceeded by the original system. We have now endeavoured to examine both branches of this singular Janguage: we have seen its Written Medium originate in a few simple characters deemed representations of natural objects, which combine till they form, in the opinion of the Chinese, a language copious and elegant in a high degree; and we have now traced its Colloquial Medium, probably still more ancient, to certain principles, defective indeed, compared with those on which alphabetic languages are founded, but considered as a whole, discovering much boldness of design. We have seen this medium, in all its original poverty, but diversified by an ingenious system of intonation, spread throughout the neighbouring countries, and at length, laying hold of the Sungskrit alphabetic system, constrain it to bend to its unyielding and characteristic peculiarities, and receive tones to which it is naturally a stranger. We see it still retaining possession of these countries, and by its indelible characteristics, furnishing perhaps the best monument now existing, of their origin and former circumstances. But the subject is far from being exhausted and although the writer feels conscious, as far as seven years' close reflection on the subject, can support such a consciousness, that the facts here adduced will bear examination, he is far from thinking that nothing can be added to them. To a candid and impartial public they are now submitted; and particularly to the examination of those few ingenuous minds who may be pursuing the same line of philology, and who can best appreciate the labor and study which these pages have cost the author. Of their friendly remarks he will gladly avail himself, should the indulgence of the public ever call for another edition, as well of such new information as may result from his own or his sons' future application to the study of Chinese ;-a study the pleasure resulting from which is so great, (now first difficulties are surmounted,) and the field of research which it opens, so interesting, as scarcely to permit its being relinquished but with life itself. We now proceed to the other part of the subject, the interior or Grammatical structure of the language. THE END OF PART II. |