Beijing dialect

'''Beijing dialect''', or '''Pekingese''' ({{zh|s=北京话|t=北京話|p=Běijīnghuà}}), is the [[dialect of Mandarin]] spoken in the urban area of [[Beijing]], [[China]]. It is the phonological basis of [[Standard Chinese]], which is used by the [[People's Republic of China]], the [[Republic of China]] ([[Taiwan]]), and [[Singapore]]. Although the Beijing dialect and Standard Chinese are highly similar, various differences generally make clear to Chinese speakers whether an individual is a native of Beijing speaking the local Beijing variant or is an individual speaking Standard Chinese. ==Distribution== The term "Beijing dialect" usually refers to the dialect spoken in the urban area of Beijing only.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}} However, linguists{{Who|date=August 2010}} have given a broader definition for '''Beijing Mandarin''' ({{zh|s=北京官话|t=北京官話|p=Běijīng Guānhuà}}) that also includes some dialects closely akin to that of urban Beijing.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} For example, the [[topolect]] of [[Chengde]], [[Hebei]], a city to the north of Beijing, is considered{{Who|date=May 2010}} sufficiently close to Beijing dialect to be put into this category. Standard Chinese is also put into this category,{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}} since it is based on the local dialect of Beijing. ==Mutual intelligibility other Mandarin dialects== [[Dungan language]] speakers like [[Iasyr Shivaza]] and others have reported that Chinese who speak Beijing dialect can understand Dungan, but Dungans could not understand the Beijing Mandarin. ==Phonology== {{IPA notice}} In fundamental structure, the [[phonology]] of the Beijing dialect and Standard Chinese are almost identical. In part, this is because the pronunciation of Standard Chinese was based on Beijing pronunciation. (See [[Standard Chinese]] for its phonology charts; the same basic structure applies to the Beijing dialect.) However, some striking differences exist. Most prominent is the proliferation of [[rhotic vowel]]s. All rhotic vowels are the result of the use of the -{{lang|zh|儿}} {{IPA|/-ɻ/}}, a [[noun]] [[Affix|suffix]], except for a few words pronounced {{IPA|/ɑɻ/}} that do not have this suffix. In Standard Chinese, these also occur, but with nowhere near the ubiquity and frequency in which they appear in Beijing dialect. This phenomenon is known as {{transl|zh|ISO|[[érhuà]]}} ({{lang|zh|儿化}}) or [[rhotacization]], as is considered one of the iconic characteristics of Beijing Mandarin. When /w/ occurs in syllable-initial position, many speakers use [ʋ] before any vowel except [o] as in {{lang|zh|我}} {{transl|zh|ISO|''wǒ''}}, e.g. {{lang|zh|尾巴}} {{transl|zh|ISO|''wěiba''}} {{IPA|[ʋei̯˨pa˦]}}. Moreover, Beijing dialect has a few phonetic reductions that are usually considered too "colloquial" for use in Standard Chinese. For example, in fast speech, initial consonants go through [[lenition]] if they are in an [[lexical stress|unstressed]] [[syllable]]: [[pinyin]] ⟨{{transl|zh|ISO|zh ch sh}}⟩ {{IPA|/tʂ tʂʰ ʂ/}} become ⟨r⟩ {{IPA|/ɻ/}}, so {{lang|zh|不知道}} {{transl|zh|ISO|''bùzhīdào''}} "don't know" can sound like {{transl|zh|ISO|''bùrdào''}}; ⟨j q x⟩ {{IPA|/tɕ tɕʰ ɕ/}} become ⟨y⟩ {{IPA|/j/}}, so {{lang|zh|赶紧去}} {{transl|zh|ISO|''gǎnjǐnqù''}} "go quickly" can sound like {{transl|zh|ISO|''gǎnyǐnqù''}}; [[pinyin]] ⟨b d g⟩ {{IPA|/p t k/}} go through [[phonation|voicing]] to become {{IPA|[b d ɡ]}}; similar changes also occur on other consonants. Also, final -⟨n⟩ {{IPA|/-n/}} and (less frequently) -⟨ng⟩ {{IPA|/-ŋ/}} can fail to close entirely, so that a [[nasal vowel]] is pronounced instead of a [[nasal consonant]]; for example, {{lang|zh|您}} {{transl|zh|ISO|''nín''}} ends up sounding like {{IPA|[nĩ˧˥]}} ([[Nasal vowel|nasalized]]), instead of {{IPA|[nin˧˥]}} as in Standard Chinese: {| class="wikitable" ! [[Pinyin]] ! Standard Chinese ! abbr="typical pronunciation" | Typical pronunciation
in Beijing |-align=center | {{transl|zh|ISO|an}} || {{IPA|[an]}} || {{IPA|[æɨ̃]}} |-align=center | {{transl|zh|ISO|ian}} || {{IPA|[i̯ɛn]}} || {{IPA|[i̯ɛɨ̃]}} |-align=center | {{transl|zh|ISO|en}} || {{IPA|[ən]}} || {{IPA|[əɨ̃]}} |-align=center | {{transl|zh|ISO|in}} || {{IPA|[in]}} || {{IPA|[i̯əɨ̃]}} |-align=center | {{transl|zh|ISO|ang}} || {{IPA|[ɑŋ]}} || {{IPA|[ɑɯ̃]}} |-align=center | {{transl|zh|ISO|eng}} || {{IPA|[ɤŋ]}} || {{IPA|[ɤɯ̃]}} |-align=center | {{transl|zh|ISO|ing}} || {{IPA|[iŋ]}} || {{IPA|[i̯ɤɯ̃]}} |} Some of these changes yield syllables which are violate the syllable structure of Standard Chinese, such as 大柵欄 ''Dà Zhàlán'' Street, which locals pronounce as ''Dàshlàr''. The tones of Beijing dialect tend to be more exaggerated than Standard Chinese. In Standard Chinese, the four tones are high flat, high rising, low dipping, and falling; in Beijing dialect, the first two tones are made higher, the third one dips more prominently, and the fourth one falls more. ==Vocabulary== Beijing dialect typically uses many words that are considered slang, and therefore occur much less or not at all in Standard Chinese. Speakers not native to Beijing may have trouble understanding many or most of these. Many of such slang words employ the rhotic [[Affix|suffix]] -r. Examples include: {{transl|zh|ISO|bèir}} – very, especially (referring to manner or attribute) {{transl|zh|ISO|biéjie}} – do not; usually followed by {{lang|zh|呀}} if used as an [[Imperative mood|imperative]] (Usually used when rejecting a favor or politeness from close friends) {{transl|zh|ISO|cuōhuǒr}} – to be angry {{transl|zh|ISO|diārle}} – to leave; to run away {{transl|zh|ISO|èrbǎdāo}} – a person with limited abilities, klutz {{transl|zh|ISO|sayazi}} – to let go on feet, to go, leave. {{transl|zh|ISO|sóng}} / {{lang|zh|蔫儿}} {{transl|zh|ISO|niār}} – no backbone, spiritless {{transl|zh|ISO|xiāoting}} – to finally and thankfully become quiet and calm {{transl|zh|ISO|zhé}} – way (to do something); equivalent to Standard Chinese {{lang|zh|办法}} {{transl|zh|ISO|zhezile}} – ruined (especially things to do) Some Beijing phrases may be somewhat disseminated outside Beijing: {{transl|zh|ISO|kōumér}} – stingy, miserly (may be used even outside Beijing) {{transl|zh|ISO|láojia}} – "Excuse me"; heard often on public transportation {{transl|zh|ISO|liūda}} – to stroll about; equivalent to Standard Chinese {{lang|zh|逛街}} or {{lang|zh|散步}} Note that some of the [[slang]] are considered to be {{transl|zh|ISO|''tuhua''}} ({{lang|zh|土话}}), or "base" or "uneducated" language, that are carryovers from an older generation and are no longer used amongst more educated speakers, for example: {{transl|zh|ISO|qíxiǎor}} – since a young age {{transl|zh|ISO|yūncài}} – to be disoriented Others may be viewed as [[neologism|neologistic]] expressions used amongst among younger speakers and in "trendier" circles: {{transl|zh|ISO|shuǎng}} – cool (in relation to a matter); cf. {{lang|zh|酷}} ({{transl|zh|ISO|kù}}) (describes a person) {{transl|zh|ISO|tàocír}} – to toss into the hoop; used of basketball {{transl|zh|ISO|xiǎomì}} – special female friend (negative connotation) ==Grammar== The Beijing dialect was studied by linguists like Joseph Edkins and [[Robert Morrison (missionary)|Robert Morrison]]. The [[grammar]] of the colloquial Beijing dialect utilizes more colloquial expressions than does Standard Chinese. In general, Standard Chinese is influenced by [[Classical Chinese]], which makes it more condensed and concise; Beijing dialect can therefore seem more longwinded (though note the generally faster speaking rate and phonetic reductions of colloquial Beijing speech). An example: *[[Standard Chinese]]: } } **Translation: ''It is going to rain today, (so) remember to bring an umbrella when you go out.'' *Beijing dialect: } } *Under the influence of the Beijing dialect's phonetic reductions: } ==See also== *[[List of Chinese dialects]] *[[Chinatown, Flushing]] {{Chinese language}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Beijing Dialect}}