On the palatalization of velars in Modern Chinese The Chinese words in Daqing Taizu Wuhuangdi Shilu of Manchu text

Abstract

Through comparison of Daqing Taizu Wuhuangdi Shilu of Manchu text, compiled November1636, with Manzhou Shilu of Chinese text, it is possible to abstract and compare Manchu words borrowed from Chinese characters of velar and those of dental, which are mainly proper nouns.
1. Chinese characters of unaspirated velar plosive: cen jio jiyei, jiyan jiyun doo 2.those of unaspirated dental affricate: huwang jin, jing an 3. those of aspirated velar plosive: hiya guwe cing, lio cioi 4. those of aspirated dental affricate: cing hoo, g, an ciowan pu 5. those of velar fricative: hoo si hiyan, hoo si siyan, hing san, Sing san 6. those of dental fricative: jiyang si, boo ceng siyan, booceng hiyan, sin an, hiowan fu
The Chinese characters of velar were transliterated through the Manchu letters, ji [t∫i], ci [t∫i] and si [∫i]. This is because by the first half of the seventeenth century, palatalization took place and a Pekingese speaker would read these Chinese characters in the manner of the present day. In addition there are some cases where Chinese words of dental fricative are transliterated by the Manchu letter of velar fricative, hi-. This is due to erroneous application of Manchu hi- to these Chinese characters, to which Manchu si- should have applied. Therefore there is a possibility that a dental fricative and a velar one had already united to be a palatal before these Chinese words were borrowed.