Bungieen kab peqoe: Difference between revisions

In [[Hokkiexn-oe|Hokkien]], reading pronunciations (''{{tts|thag'ym}}'' 讀音) differ from spoken pronunciations/explications (''{{tts|gwym}}'' 語音 / ''{{tts|kayseq}}'' 解說). Hokkien dictionaries in Taiwan often differentiate between such character readings with the prefixes 文 (''{{x2|buun}}'') for literary readings, and 白 (''{{x2|pek}}'' / ''{{x2|peh}}'') for colloquial readings (see [[Taioaan Banlamguo Siong'iong-Suu Sutiern]]).

 

The bulk of literary readings (''{{tts|bunthak}}'' 文讀) are based on pronunciations of the vernacular during the Tang ([[Toong]]) dynasty and mainly used in formal phrases and written language (e.g. philosophical concepts, surnames, and some place names). For example, see [[Most Common Surnames in Taiwan]] and [[Laixgoaxkhøf Kharnhoxhak]]. Literary readings tend to be more similar to the pronunciations of the Tang standard of [[Middle Chinese]] than their colloquial equivalents. The colloquial (or vernacular) readings (''{{tts|peqthak}}'' 白讀) are basically used in spoken language and vulgar (ordinary/common) phrases.

 

The divergence between literary and colloquial is due to several strata in the Min lexicon. The earliest, colloquial stratum is traced to the {{w|Han Dynasty}} (206 BCE - 220 CE, [[Haxn]]); the second colloquial one comes from the period of the {{w|Southern and Northern Dynasties}} (420 - 589 CE, [[Lampaktiaau]]); the third stratum of pronunciations (typically literary ones) comes from the {{w|Tang Dynasty}} (618 – 907 AD, [[Toong]]). (Note: this could be why literary readings sound closer to [[Mandarin]] than colloquial. With names and numbers often being read in Mandarin, it has been suggested that Mandarin is effectively replacing literary Hokkien in Taiwanese.)