Proto-Sinitic languages
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Proto-Sinitic is the reconstructed prehistoric ancestor of the Chinese languages, also known as Sinitic languages. Reconstructing Proto-Sinitic is challenging because the Chinese writing system offers less phonetic help than alphabetic scripts. Linguists compare modern Sinitic languages to infer its features.12
Proto-Sinitic is believed to have been monosyllabic, similar to Proto-Tibeto-Burman. It likely had distinctions in initial consonant stops (aspirated vs. unaspirated) and possibly voiced stops. Unlike Tibeto-Burman, Old Chinese (an early form of Sinitic) had two series of final stops. Proto-Sinitic also featured palatal and retroflex points of articulation, possibly influenced by lost medial sounds like -y- and -r-. The vowel system is complex, and tones likely developed from consonant contrasts and morphological processes.34
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Chinese languages…of the Chinese languages into Proto-Sinitic (Proto-Chinese; until 500 bc), Archaic (Old) Chinese (8th to 3rd century bc), Ancient (Middle) Chinese (through ad 907), and Modern Chinese (from c. the 10th century to modern times). The Proto-Sinitic period is the period of the most ancient inscriptions and poetry; most loanwords…
Read More…of the Chinese languages into Proto-Sinitic (Proto-Chinese; until 500 bc), Archaic (Old) Chinese (8th to 3rd century bc), Ancient (Middle) Chinese (through ad 907), and Modern Chinese (from c. the 10th century to modern times). The Proto-Sinitic period is the period of the most ancient inscriptions and poetry; most loanwords…
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Sino-Tibetan languagesChinese, or Sinitic, languagesprehistoric Chinese is known as Proto-Sinitic (or Proto-Chinese). The oldest historic language of China is called Archaic, or Old, Chinese (8th–3rd centuries bce), and that of the next period up to and including the Tang dynasty (618–907 ce) is known as Ancient, or Middle, Chinese. Languages of later periods include…
Read Moreprehistoric Chinese is known as Proto-Sinitic (or Proto-Chinese). The oldest historic language of China is called Archaic, or Old, Chinese (8th–3rd centuries bce), and that of the next period up to and including the Tang dynasty (618–907 ce) is known as Ancient, or Middle, Chinese. Languages of later periods include…
Read More- Sino-Tibetan languagesProto-Sinitic
Greater dissimilarity is encountered with respect to Proto-Sinitic. The contrast of aspirated and unaspirated voiceless stops in initial position is most likely the result of lost initial cluster elements as in Proto-Tibeto-Burman. The voiced stops possibly also had the aspirated–unaspirated distinction. Unlike Tibeto-Burman, two…
Read MoreGreater dissimilarity is encountered with respect to Proto-Sinitic. The contrast of aspirated and unaspirated voiceless stops in initial position is most likely the result of lost initial cluster elements as in Proto-Tibeto-Burman. The voiced stops possibly also had the aspirated–unaspirated distinction. Unlike Tibeto-Burman, two…
Read More