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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 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); 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.) | 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.) | ||
==Source == | ==Source == |
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