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The dialect group designated as Lower Yangtze Mandarin, alternatively referred to as Jiang-Huai Mandarin, is characterized by a high degree of mutual intelligibility with other Mandarin varieties.
Answer: False
Explanation: The source indicates that Lower Yangtze Mandarin is, in fact, considered linguistically divergent and less mutually intelligible with other Mandarin varieties.
Lower Yangtze Mandarin does not belong to the Indo-European language family.
Answer: True
Explanation: Lower Yangtze Mandarin is classified within the Sino-Tibetan language family, specifically as a variety of Chinese.
Lower Yangtze Mandarin is not characterized by having only one pronunciation for each Chinese character.
Answer: True
Explanation: Lower Yangtze Mandarin exhibits distinct literary and colloquial readings for many Chinese characters, meaning a single character can have multiple pronunciations.
The ISO 639-3 code assigned to Lower Yangtze Mandarin is not 'juai'.
Answer: True
Explanation: The ISO 639-3 code assigned to Lower Yangtze Mandarin is 'mis'. The code 'juai' is designated for Jianghuai Mandarin under ISO 639-6.
The Glottolog code 'jing1262' is not used to identify the Wu Chinese language group.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Glottolog code 'jing1262' identifies Lower Yangtze Mandarin, not Wu Chinese.
The Linguasphere designation for Lower Yangtze Mandarin is '79-AAA-bi'.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Linguasphere Observatory assigns the designation '79-AAA-bi' to Lower Yangtze Mandarin.
The traditional Chinese characters for Jiang-Huai Mandarin are 下江官話.
Answer: False
Explanation: The traditional characters for Jiang-Huai Mandarin are 江淮官話. The characters 下江官話 refer to Lower Yangtze Mandarin.
What are the alternative designations for Lower Yangtze Mandarin?
Answer: Jiang-Huai Mandarin or Huai Chinese
Explanation: Lower Yangtze Mandarin is also commonly referred to as Jiang-Huai Mandarin or Huai Chinese.
What is a key characteristic that distinguishes Lower Yangtze Mandarin within the broader Mandarin dialect group?
Answer: It is considered linguistically divergent and possesses lower mutual intelligibility.
Explanation: Lower Yangtze Mandarin is recognized for its linguistic divergence and reduced mutual intelligibility compared to other Mandarin varieties.
To which major language family does Lower Yangtze Mandarin belong?
Answer: Sino-Tibetan family
Explanation: Lower Yangtze Mandarin is classified within the Sino-Tibetan language family, specifically as a variety of the Sinitic languages.
What is the ISO 639-6 code designated for Jianghuai Mandarin?
Answer: juai
Explanation: The ISO 639-6 code designated for Jianghuai Mandarin is 'juai'.
What linguistic entity is identified by the Glottolog code 'jing1262'?
Answer: Lower Yangtze Mandarin
Explanation: The Glottolog code 'jing1262' serves as an identifier for Lower Yangtze Mandarin within linguistic databases.
The principal geographical domain of Lower Yangtze Mandarin encompasses contiguous regions within central Anhui, Jiangsu, and eastern Hubei provinces.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source confirms that Lower Yangtze Mandarin is primarily spoken in central Anhui, Jiangsu, and eastern Hubei provinces.
In 1987, the estimated number of speakers for Lower Yangtze Mandarin was approximately 67 million.
Answer: True
Explanation: The provided data indicates that in 1987, the estimated number of speakers for Lower Yangtze Mandarin was approximately 67 million.
The name 'Jiang-Huai Mandarin' does not refer to the dialect spoken along the Yellow River and the Huai River.
Answer: True
Explanation: The name 'Jiang-Huai Mandarin' is derived from the Yangtze River (Jiang) and the Huai River, indicating its geographical locus.
The geographical expanse of Lower Yangtze Mandarin is situated between which two major rivers?
Answer: Huai River and Yangtze River
Explanation: The name 'Jiang-Huai Mandarin' indicates its geographical locus, situated between the Yangtze River (Jiang) and the Huai River.
The designation 'Jiang-Huai Mandarin' is derived from which two rivers?
Answer: Yangtze River and Huai River
Explanation: The name 'Jiang-Huai Mandarin' originates from the Yangtze River (Jiang) and the Huai River, indicating the dialect's geographical distribution.
During the Ming and early Qing dynasties, the administrative lingua franca was not primarily based on the Beijing dialect.
Answer: True
Explanation: The administrative lingua franca during the Ming and early Qing dynasties was based on Lower Yangtze Mandarin, with the Beijing dialect becoming dominant later.
The Nanjing dialect served as a significant basis for the early Ming dynasty's court dialect, referred to as Guanhua.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Nanjing dialect, having transitioned to a Mandarin variety, was foundational to the early Ming dynasty's Guanhua.
During the Eastern Jin dynasty, the primary dialect in Nanjing was not a variety of Mandarin.
Answer: True
Explanation: During the Eastern Jin dynasty, Nanjing's primary dialect was a variety of Wu Chinese.
Northern Chinese immigrants during the mid-Song dynasty influenced the development of literary readings in Jianghuai Mandarin.
Answer: True
Explanation: The influx of northern Chinese immigrants during the mid-Song dynasty contributed to the development of literary readings in Jianghuai Mandarin.
Jianghuai Mandarin was not likely the native dialect of the founding emperor of the Yuan dynasty.
Answer: True
Explanation: Jianghuai Mandarin was likely the native dialect of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty, not the Yuan dynasty.
The early Ming dynasty's Guanhua (court dialect) was not primarily based on Northern Mandarin.
Answer: True
Explanation: The early Ming dynasty's Guanhua was strongly based on Jianghuai Mandarin, not Northern Mandarin.
Evidence from Western missionaries suggests that early Ming Guanhua retained distinctions characteristic of Jianghuai dialects, such as separate pronunciations for final -n and -ng.
Answer: True
Explanation: Western missionary transcriptions and Korean Hangul writings indicate that early Ming Guanhua preserved Jianghuai dialect features like distinct pronunciations for final -n and -ng.
During the Qing dynasty, Jianghuai Mandarin served as a standard for Baihua (written vernacular Chinese).
Answer: True
Explanation: Jianghuai Mandarin, alongside Northern Mandarin, functioned as a standard for Baihua during the Qing dynasty, promoting linguistic uniformity in written communication.
The Beijing dialect-based standard for Baihua did not become dominant around the mid-1700s.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Beijing dialect-based standard for Baihua became dominant around the mid-1800s, not the mid-1700s.
Peking opera is linked to the Jianghuai dialect because many early opera troupes in Beijing originated from Anhui and Hubei provinces.
Answer: True
Explanation: The association between Peking opera and the Jianghuai dialect stems from the origin of many early opera troupes in Beijing from Anhui and Hubei provinces.
The Nanjing-centered pronunciation did not lose its prestige immediately after the Ming capital moved to Beijing in 1421.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Nanjing-centered pronunciation, rooted in Jianghuai Mandarin, maintained its prestige throughout the late Ming period, even after the capital's relocation.
The Ming dynasty's relocation policies involved moving people from southern regions to Nanjing, contributing to the formation of its Mandarin koiné.
Answer: True
Explanation: Ming dynasty relocation policies, which moved populations to Nanjing, played a role in shaping the Mandarin koiné that developed there.
What served as the administrative lingua franca during the Ming and early Qing dynasties?
Answer: Lower Yangtze Mandarin
Explanation: During the Ming and early Qing dynasties, the administrative lingua franca was based on Lower Yangtze Mandarin.
The Nanjing dialect transitioned from a Wu variety to a Mandarin variety following the migration of northern Chinese speakers during which historical dynasty?
Answer: Eastern Jin Dynasty
Explanation: The migration of northern Chinese speakers during the Eastern Jin dynasty led to Nanjing's speech shifting from Wu Chinese towards a Mandarin variety.
What historical event precipitated Nanjing's linguistic shift from Wu Chinese towards Mandarin?
Answer: The migration of northern Chinese speakers during the Eastern Jin dynasty
Explanation: The migration of northern Chinese speakers during the Eastern Jin dynasty, coinciding with Nanjing becoming the capital, was the primary driver for the shift from Wu Chinese to a Mandarin variety.
Northern Chinese immigrants during the mid-Song dynasty introduced a linguistic influence that became the source for which development?
Answer: The literary readings in Northern Wu and Jianghuai Mandarin
Explanation: The linguistic influence of northern Chinese immigrants during the mid-Song dynasty is credited as the source for the literary readings found in both Northern Wu and Jianghuai Mandarin.
According to historical context, whose native dialect was likely Jianghuai Mandarin?
Answer: Zhu Yuanzhang, the Hongwu Emperor
Explanation: Historical evidence suggests that Jianghuai Mandarin was likely the native dialect of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty.
The early Ming dynasty's Guanhua (court dialect) is described as a koiné strongly based upon which dialectal foundation?
Answer: Jianghuai Mandarin
Explanation: The early Ming dynasty's Guanhua, or court dialect, is characterized as a koiné that was strongly based on Jianghuai Mandarin.
What form of evidence suggests that early Ming Guanhua retained distinct Jianghuai dialect characteristics?
Answer: Western missionary transcriptions and Korean Hangul writings
Explanation: Transcriptions by Western missionaries and Korean Hangul writings provide evidence that early Ming Guanhua preserved Jianghuai dialect features, such as distinct pronunciations for final -n and -ng.
During the Qing dynasty, Jianghuai Mandarin served as a standard for Baihua (written vernacular Chinese) in conjunction with which other dialectal standard?
Answer: Northern Mandarin
Explanation: During the Qing dynasty, Jianghuai Mandarin functioned as a standard for Baihua alongside Northern Mandarin, promoting consistency in written vernacular Chinese.
The development of Peking opera is linked to the Jianghuai dialect, as many 18th-century troupes performing in Beijing originated from which provinces?
Answer: Anhui and Hubei
Explanation: Many early Peking opera troupes performing in Beijing during the 18th century originated from Anhui and Hubei provinces, regions where Jianghuai Mandarin varieties were spoken.
A distinctive phonological feature of Lower Yangtze Mandarin is NOT its complete loss of Middle Chinese final stop consonants; rather, it retains a glottal stop.
Answer: True
Explanation: Lower Yangtze Mandarin retains a final glottal stop from Middle Chinese final stop consonants, distinguishing it from many other Mandarin varieties that have lost these sounds entirely.
In most Lower Yangtze varieties, the initial /n-/ sound has merged with the initial /l-/ sound.
Answer: True
Explanation: A characteristic feature of Lower Yangtze Mandarin is the merger of the initial /n-/ sound with the initial /l-/ sound, meaning they are pronounced identically in many words.
Most Lower Yangtze varieties do not distinguish Middle Chinese retroflex initials from affricate initials, unlike northern Mandarin.
Answer: True
Explanation: Most Lower Yangtze varieties have merged Middle Chinese retroflex initials with affricate initials, a sound change also observed in Southwestern Mandarin.
The Nanjing dialect is unique among Lower Yangtze varieties for retaining the distinction between Middle Chinese retroflex and affricate initials.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Nanjing dialect is noted for preserving the distinction between Middle Chinese retroflex and affricate initials, a feature shared with northern Mandarin varieties.
The merger of initial /n-/ and /l-/ sounds is a characteristic feature found in Southwestern Mandarin as well as Lower Yangtze varieties.
Answer: True
Explanation: The merger of initial /n-/ and /l-/ sounds is common to both Southwestern Mandarin and Lower Yangtze varieties.
The 'entering tone' in Middle Chinese did not refer to syllables ending in nasal consonants.
Answer: True
Explanation: The 'entering tone' in Middle Chinese referred to syllables ending in stop consonants (-p, -t, -k), not nasal consonants.
In Lower Yangtze Mandarin, syllables with the Middle Chinese 'entering tone' have merged into a glottal stop and remain phonetically distinct.
Answer: True
Explanation: Lower Yangtze Mandarin preserves the Middle Chinese 'entering tone' syllables as distinct entities ending in a glottal stop, unlike Standard Mandarin.
Which phonological feature, originating from Middle Chinese, is retained in Lower Yangtze Mandarin but has been lost in many other Mandarin varieties?
Answer: The final glottal stop derived from Middle Chinese stop consonants
Explanation: Lower Yangtze Mandarin retains a final glottal stop from Middle Chinese syllables that ended in stop consonants, a feature absent in most other Mandarin varieties.
What phonological merger is commonly observed in Lower Yangtze varieties concerning the initial sounds /n-/ and /l-/?
Answer: /n-/ merges with /l-/
Explanation: A common phonological merger in Lower Yangtze varieties is the conflation of the initial /n-/ sound with the initial /l-/ sound.
How do most Lower Yangtze varieties treat Middle Chinese retroflex initials in comparison to northern Mandarin?
Answer: They merge them with affricate initials.
Explanation: Most Lower Yangtze varieties have merged Middle Chinese retroflex initials with affricate initials, a characteristic that differs from northern Mandarin.
Which specific Lower Yangtze dialect is noted for retaining the distinction between Middle Chinese retroflex and affricate initials?
Answer: The Nanjing dialect
Explanation: The Nanjing dialect uniquely retains the distinction between Middle Chinese retroflex and affricate initials, mirroring northern Mandarin practices.
Regarding its treatment in Lower Yangtze Mandarin, what is the significance of the 'entering tone' in Middle Chinese phonology?
Answer: It merged into a glottal stop and remains distinct.
Explanation: The Middle Chinese 'entering tone' syllables merged into a glottal stop in Lower Yangtze Mandarin, maintaining phonetic distinction, unlike in Standard Mandarin.
The Taixing dialect's use of 'a' as a postverbal aspect marker does not align it closely with Standard Mandarin's grammatical structures.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Taixing dialect's use of 'a' as a postverbal aspect marker is considered intermediate between Standard Mandarin and Wu Chinese, highlighting its transitional nature rather than close alignment with Standard Mandarin.
The character <span title="Chinese-language text"><span lang="zh">横</span></span> (meaning 'oblique') does not have the same pronunciation in Lower Yangtze Mandarin and Standard Mandarin.
Answer: True
Explanation: The character <span title="Chinese-language text"><span lang="zh">横</span></span> has a colloquial reading of /xoŋ/ and a literary reading of /tɕiɪ/ in Lower Yangtze Mandarin, differing from the Standard Mandarin pronunciation /xəŋ/.
The character <span title="Chinese-language text"><span lang="zh">下</span></span>, meaning 'down,' has a colloquial reading of /xa/ in Lower Yangtze Mandarin.
Answer: True
Explanation: The character <span title="Chinese-language text"><span lang="zh">下</span></span>, signifying 'down,' exhibits a colloquial pronunciation of /xa/ in Lower Yangtze Mandarin.
The character <span title="Chinese-language text"><span lang="zh">摘</span></span>, meaning 'pick,' does not have a literary reading of /tsəŋ/ in Lower Yangtze Mandarin.
Answer: True
Explanation: The character <span title="Chinese-language text"><span lang="zh">摘</span></span> has a literary reading of /tsəʔ/ in Lower Yangtze Mandarin, and its colloquial reading is /tiɪʔ/.
Which linguistic characteristic of the Taixing dialect is noted as being intermediate between Standard Mandarin and Wu Chinese?
Answer: Use of 'a' as a postverbal aspect marker
Explanation: The Taixing dialect's employment of 'a' as a postverbal aspect marker is considered an intermediate feature between Standard Mandarin and Wu Chinese.
What significant feature concerning the pronunciation of Chinese characters is characteristic of Lower Yangtze Mandarin?
Answer: The presence of distinct literary and colloquial readings.
Explanation: A significant characteristic of Lower Yangtze Mandarin is the existence of separate literary and colloquial readings for many Chinese characters.
The character <span title="Chinese-language text"><span lang="zh">横</span></span> (meaning 'oblique') exhibits distinct readings in Lower Yangtze Mandarin. Which of the following is NOT among its documented readings?
Answer: A reading ending in a glottal stop
Explanation: The character <span title="Chinese-language text"><span lang="zh">横</span></span> has colloquial and literary readings in Lower Yangtze Mandarin, but not a reading ending in a glottal stop.
Which of the following vocabulary items, documented by Matteo Ricci, is likely derived from the Jianghuai Mandarin dialect?
Answer: Pear
Explanation: Matteo Ricci's dictionary includes vocabulary items such as 'pear' that are likely derived from Jianghuai Mandarin.
The character <span title="Chinese-language text"><span lang="zh">下</span></span> signifies 'down.' How does its colloquial reading in Lower Yangtze Mandarin contrast with its literary reading?
Answer: Colloquial is /xa/, Literary is /tɕia/
Explanation: In Lower Yangtze Mandarin, the character <span title="Chinese-language text"><span lang="zh">下</span></span> has a colloquial reading of /xa/ and a literary reading of /tɕia/.
The *Language Atlas of China* delineates three principal branches of Lower Yangtze Mandarin: the Hongchao dialects, the Tong-Tai / Tai–Ru dialects, and the Huang–Xiao dialects.
Answer: True
Explanation: The *Language Atlas of China* categorizes Lower Yangtze Mandarin into these three primary branches.
The Tong-Tai / Tai–Ru dialects are not the most extensive and widely distributed branch of Lower Yangtze Mandarin.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Hongchao dialects are identified as the largest and most widespread branch of Lower Yangtze Mandarin.
The Nanjing dialect is not considered the most prominent variety within the Huang–Xiao branch of Lower Yangtze Mandarin.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Nanjing dialect is recognized as the most prominent variety within the Hongchao dialects, not the Huang–Xiao branch.
The Huang–Xiao dialects are predominantly spoken in prefectures such as Huanggang and Xiaogan in eastern Hubei province.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source confirms that the Huang–Xiao dialects are primarily associated with Huanggang and Xiaogan in eastern Hubei.
Richard VanNess Simmons argued that the Hangzhou dialect is a distinct Wu Chinese dialect unrelated to Mandarin.
Answer: False
Explanation: Richard VanNess Simmons proposed that the Hangzhou dialect should be classified as a Mandarin dialect closely related to Jianghuai Mandarin, rather than a distinct Wu Chinese dialect.
Linguistic studies do not suggest that Lower Yangtze Mandarin varieties have closer ties to Cantonese based on shared vocabulary.
Answer: True
Explanation: Some linguistic studies suggest closer ties between Lower Yangtze Mandarin varieties and Xiang and Gan varieties based on vocabulary, not Cantonese.
Francisco Varo did not advise learners to acquire Mandarin from speakers of Southern Wu dialects for the best pronunciation.
Answer: True
Explanation: Francisco Varo recommended acquiring Mandarin from speakers of the Province of Nanjing, not Southern Wu dialects.
In recent times, Wu dialects have not increasingly supplanted Jianghuai Mandarin in several counties within Jiangsu province.
Answer: True
Explanation: Recent trends indicate that Jianghuai Mandarin has been increasingly supplanting Wu dialects in several Jiangsu counties, not the reverse.
Wu speakers migrating into eastern Jiangsu did not contribute to the formation of the Huang–Xiao branch of Lower Yangtze Mandarin.
Answer: True
Explanation: Wu speakers migrating into eastern Jiangsu contributed to the formation of the Tong-Tai branch, not the Huang–Xiao branch.
The Tai–Ru varieties of eastern-central Jiangsu retain a distinct /ŋ-/ initial sound.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Tai–Ru varieties, spoken in eastern-central Jiangsu, are notable for retaining the /ŋ-/ initial sound, which has merged with the zero initial in most other Mandarin varieties.
Chin-Chuan Cheng's vocabulary study suggested Eastern Jianghuai Mandarin dialects clustered more closely with Northern Mandarin than with Xiang and Gan varieties.
Answer: False
Explanation: Chin-Chuan Cheng's research indicated that Eastern Jianghuai Mandarin dialects demonstrated closer lexical affinities with Xiang and Gan varieties, rather than Northern Mandarin.
Lower Yangtze Mandarin is spoken adjacent to the Gan Chinese group, and linguists debate their relationship.
Answer: True
Explanation: The geographical proximity of Lower Yangtze Mandarin to the Gan Chinese group has led to ongoing linguistic debate regarding their precise relationship.
According to the classification presented in the *Language Atlas of China*, which of the following is NOT identified as a primary branch of Lower Yangtze Mandarin?
Answer: Gan dialects
Explanation: The *Language Atlas of China* identifies Hongchao, Tong-Tai / Tai–Ru, and Huang–Xiao as the main branches; Gan dialects are a separate Chinese language group.
Which branch of Lower Yangtze Mandarin is characterized as the most extensive and widely distributed?
Answer: Hongchao dialects
Explanation: The Hongchao dialects are identified as the largest and most widespread branch within Lower Yangtze Mandarin.
Within which primary branch of Lower Yangtze Mandarin is the Nanjing dialect considered the most prominent variety?
Answer: Hongchao
Explanation: The Nanjing dialect is recognized as the most prominent and well-known variety within the Hongchao dialects of Lower Yangtze Mandarin.
Which prefectures are primarily associated with the Huang–Xiao dialects of Lower Yangtze Mandarin?
Answer: Huanggang and Xiaogan
Explanation: The Huang–Xiao dialects are predominantly spoken in the prefectures of Huanggang and Xiaogan in eastern Hubei province.
Richard VanNess Simmons proposed that the Hangzhou dialect should be classified as:
Answer: A Mandarin dialect closely related to Jianghuai Mandarin
Explanation: Richard VanNess Simmons argued that the Hangzhou dialect is a Mandarin dialect closely related to Jianghuai Mandarin, challenging its traditional classification as Wu Chinese.
Francisco Varo recommended acquiring proficiency in Mandarin from speakers originating from which region?
Answer: The Province of Nanjing
Explanation: Francisco Varo advised learners to acquire Mandarin from proficient speakers, specifically recommending natives from the Province of Nanjing.
What linguistic trend has been observed in certain counties within Jiangsu province in recent times?
Answer: Jianghuai Mandarin is increasingly supplanting Wu dialects.
Explanation: In recent times, Jianghuai Mandarin has shown a trend of increasingly supplanting Wu dialects in several counties within Jiangsu province.
Based on Chin-Chuan Cheng's vocabulary study, Eastern Jianghuai Mandarin dialects exhibited closer clustering with which other Chinese varieties?
Answer: Xiang and Gan
Explanation: Chin-Chuan Cheng's research indicated that Eastern Jianghuai Mandarin dialects demonstrated closer lexical affinities with Xiang and Gan varieties.
What influence did the migration of Wu speakers into eastern Jiangsu have on the classification of Lower Yangtze Mandarin?
Answer: They contributed to the formation of the Tong-Tai branch.
Explanation: The migration of Wu speakers into eastern Jiangsu was a contributing factor to the formation of the Tong-Tai branch of Lower Yangtze Mandarin.