Voiced Obstruents in Mien and Old Chinese Reconstructions

Abstract

This paper presents additional data from Chinese loanwords into Hmong-Mien documenting the existence of prenasalization in Old Chinese, focusing on one variety: Jiangdi Mien. It additionally discusses methodological issues regarding the use of these loanwords in Old Chinese reconstruction, as well as Hmong-Mien reconstruction.

Keywords

• mien
• proto-hmong-mien
• old chinese
• prenasalization
• anticausative