Shanghainese

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Shanghainese
上海言话 
Pronunciation: IPA: zɑ̃˨.'he˦.ɦɛ˨.ɦʊ˩
Spoken in: People's Republic of China 
Region: Shanghai
Total speakers: 14 million
Language family: Sino-Tibetan
 Chinese
  Wu
   Shanghainese 
Official status
Official language of: none
Regulated by: no official regulation
Language codes
ISO 639-1: zh
ISO 639-2: chi (B)  zho (T)
ISO 639-3: wuu
Note: This page may contain IPA phonetic symbols in Unicode. See IPA chart for English for an English-​based pronunciation key.

Shanghainese (上海言话 [zɑ̃˨.'he˦.ɦɛ˨.ɦʊ˩] in Shanghainese), sometimes referred to as the Shanghai dialect, is a dialect of Wu Chinese spoken in the city of Shanghai. Shanghainese, like other Wu dialects, is not mutually intelligible with other Chinese dialects such as Standard Mandarin (see Mutually intelligible languages). Shanghainese is the representative dialect of Northern Wu; it contains vocabulary and expressions from the entire Northern Wu area (southern Jiangsu, northern Zhejiang). With nearly 14 million speakers, Shanghainese is also the largest single coherent form of Wu Chinese. In Western sources, the term "Shanghainese" often refers to all Wu dialects and not specifically the particular Wu dialect spoken in Shanghai. The total number of Wu speakers is over 80 million, the second largest Chinese language after Mandarin.

Shanghainese is rich in consonants and pure vowels [i y ɪ ɥ e ø ɛ ə ɐ a ɑ ɔ ɤ o ʊ u]. Like other northern Wu dialects, the Shanghai dialect has voiced initials [b d g ɦ z v ʥ ʑ] (although technically these are slack voiced, adding a slightly breathy quality to a following vowel). Neither Mandarin nor Cantonese has voiced initials. The Shanghainese tonal system is significantly different from other Chinese languages. Shanghainese is a language with two live tonal contrasts (high and low), while Mandarin and Cantonese are contour tonal languages.

Contents

[edit] Language policy

Shanghainese is not encouraged to be spoken in schools and written in newspapers, and the media are strongly discouraged from broadcasting in contemporary Shanghainese. There is a lot of uncertainty between what gets aired in Shanghainese and what becomes censored (due to government fears of regionalism), thus most producers do not take this risk and only produce in Mandarin. Several television advertisements in Shanghainese have been removed shortly after airing. But there have been some TV series in Shanghainese that were approved since the mid-1990s. Back in 1995, a TV play series called "Nie Zhai" (the Evil Debt) was in Shanghainese; when it was broadcast in other places in China, mainly in adjacent Wu-speaking provinces, subtitles in Mandarin were added rather than make a Mandarin version of the TV series. Another TV comedy programme "Lao Niang Jiu" (Old Uncle) has been broadcast since 1999, and is still quite popular among Shanghainese residents. In 2004, a Tom and Jerry cartoon program dubbed with Shanghainese was blocked from broadcasting. Older and more rural forms of Shanghainese are still heard on the radio (catering to farming communities in the suburbs). But the Shanghainese are strongly encouraged by the government to speak Mandarin and celebrities are put on billboards with slogans like "Be a modern Shanghai person, speak Mandarin."

In August 2005, there was media coverage reporting that Shanghainese would be taught in secondary school. This introduced great controversy. Proponents argue that this will make the students know their hometown better and help preserve local culture. Opponents argue that this will encourage discrimination based on people's origin.

In September 2005, the Shanghai municipal government also launched a campaign to encourage Mandarin speaking in Shanghai. Among other requirements, all service-industry workers in Shanghai will be required to greet customers in Mandarin only, and pass Mandarin-fluency test by 2010. Those with bad or heavily-accented Mandarin must enroll in remedial Mandarin classes.

[edit] Common Words and Phrases in Shanghainese

Note: Chinese characters for Shanghainese are not standardized and are provided for reference only. IPA transcription is for the Middle period of modern Shanghainese (中派上海话), pronunciation of those between 20 and 60 years old.

Translation Latin method Northern Wu Lumazi IPA Chinese character
Shanghainese (language) Zanhêreroo/zanhêrerau Zanheghaewo Zanheireiwo [zɑ̃.'he.ɦɛ.ɦʊ] 上海言话 or 上海闲话
Shanghainese (people) Zanhegnin Zanhegnin Zanheinin [zɑ̃.'he.ɲɪɲ] 上海人
I ngû ghoo, gnou wo, ngu [ɦʊ], [ŋu] 我
we or I aqlaq álá aelae [ɐˑ.lɐʔ] 阿拉（我拉）
he/she yi ji yi [ɦi] 伊（其）
they yila jila yila [ɦi.la] 伊拉
you (sing.) non non non [noŋ] 侬（儂）
you (plural) na na na [na] 乃 or 亻那
hello non hô non ho non ho [noŋ hɔ] 侬好（儂好）
good-bye tzêwê tsewe tzeiwei [ˈtse.ɦue] 再会（再會）
thank you jaja non ziaja non zhaya non [ʑ̻iaja noŋ]or[ʑ̻iaʑ̻ia noŋ] 谢谢侬（謝謝儂）
sorry têveqchî tevéchi teivechi [te.vəˑ.ʨʰi] 对勿起（對勿起）
but, however dêzŷ, dêzŷ ni daezu, daezu ni deizi, deizi ni [dɛ.zɿ], [dɛ.zɿ.ni] 但是, 但是呢
please tsîn tshin chin [ʨʰɪɲ] 请（請）
that one etzaq, itzaq etsá, itsá eitzae, itzae [ˈe.tsɐʔ], [i.tsɐʔ] 哎只, 伊只
there etaq, itaq etá, itá eitae, itae [ˈe.tɐʔ], [i.tɐʔ] 哎垯, 伊垯
over there emîtaq, imîtaq emitá, imitá eimitae, imitae [ˈe.mi.tɐʔ], [i.mi.tɐʔ] 哎面垯, 伊面垯
here geqtaq gétá getae [gəˑ.tɐʔ] 箇垯（搿垯）
to have yoeteq jeuté youte [ɦiɤɯ.təʔ] 有得
to exist, here, present laqhê láhe laehei [lɐˑ.he] 辣嗨
now, current yî(d）zê jieze yizei [ɦi.ze] 现在（現在）
what time is it? yîzê cîtî tzon? jieze citie tson? yizei citi tzon? [ɦi.ze ʨi.ti 'tsoŋ] 现在几点钟？（現在幾點鐘?）
where ralîtaq, sâdîfan ghalitá, sadifan ralitae, sadifan [ɦa.ɺi.tɐʔ], [sa.di.fɑ̃] 何里耷（何裏耷）, 啥地方
what sâreq saré sare [sa ɦəʔ] 啥个,做啥
who sâgnin sagnin sanin [sa.ɲɪɲ] 啥人
why wêsâ wesa weisa [ɦue.sa] 为啥（為啥）
when sâzenkuan sazencuan sazenkuan [sa.zəɲ.kuɑ̃] 啥辰光
how nânen, nânenka nanen, nanenca nanen, nanenka [na.nəɲ, na.nəɲ.ka] 哪能, 哪能介
how much? cîdî? cidie? cidi? [ʨi.di] 几钿?几块洋钿?（幾鈿?幾塊銀頭?）
yes e eh ei [ˈe] 哎
no m, veqzŷ, m'meq, vio m, vézu, mmé, vio m, vezi, mme, vio [m̩], [vəˑ.zɿ], [m̩məʔ], [viɔ] 呒、弗是、呒没
telephone number dîraû rôdoê diewo ghodeu diwo rodou [di.ɦʊ ɦɔ.dɤɯ] 电话号头（電話號頭）
home oq lîxiân ólihian oelishan [oˑ.ɺi.ɕiã] 屋里向（屋裏向）
Come to our house and play. to aqlaq oqlîxiân le beqsiân. to álá ólihian le bésian. to aelae oelishan lei beshan. [tɔ ɐˑ.lɐʔ oˑ.ɺi.ɕiɑ̃ le bəˑ.ɕiã] 到阿拉屋里向来孛相（白相）！（到阿拉屋裏向來孛相!）
Where's the restroom? dâsoêke leqlaq ralîtaq? daseucae lélá ghalitá? dasoukei lelae ralitae? [da.sɤɯ.kɛ ɺəˑ.ɺɐʔ ɦa.ɺi.tɐʔ] 汏手间勒勒阿里耷?（汏手間勒勒阿裏耷?）
Have you eaten dinner? yâvê chîkûleq va? javae chícoulé va? yavei chiekule va? [ɦia.vɛ ʨʰɪˑ.ku.ləʔ va] 夜饭吃过了𠲎?（夜飯吃過了𠲎?）
I don't know ngû veqxioteq. ghoo véhioté. wo veshote. [ŋɯ; vəˑ.ɕiɔ.təʔ] 我弗晓得.（我弗曉得.）
Do you speak English? non Inven kânteqle va? non Inven cantéle va? non Inven kantelei va? [noŋ ˈɪn.vəɲ kãtəʔle va] 侬英文讲得来𠲎?
I love you ngû ê non! ghoo e non! wo ei non. [ŋɯ; e noŋ] 我爱侬！（我愛儂!）
I adore you ngû êmu non. ghoo emu non. wo eimu non. [ŋɯ; e.mɯ noŋ] 我爱慕侬.（我愛慕儂!）
I like you a lot ngû lô hueûxî non req. ghoo lo huoehi non ghé! wo lo hueushi non re. [ŋɯ; ɺɔ ˈhuø.ɕi noŋ ɦəʔ] 我老欢喜侬个！（我老歡喜儂個）
news sinven sinven shinven [ɕɪɲ.vəɲ] 新闻（新聞）
dead sîtheqleq sithélé shithele [ɕi.tʰəˑ.ləʔ] 死脱了
alive weqlaqhê wéláhe welaehei [ɦuəˑ.lɐˑ.he] 活辣海（活着）
very ciokue (ziachî) 交关（邪气）
very bad ciokue wâ (ziachî wâ) 交关坏（邪气坏）
inside, within lîxiân lihian lishan [ɺi.ɕiã] 里向
outside ngâdoe 外頭

[edit] Initials

  Labials Dentals Sibilants Palatals Velars Glottals
Unvoiced unaspirated stops p t ʦ ʨ k ʔ
Aspirated stops pʰ tʰ ʦʰ ʨʰ kʰ  
Slack voiced stops b̻ d̻ (ʣ̻) ʥ̻ g̻  
Nasals m n   ɲ ŋ  
Unvoiced fricatives f   s ɕ   h
Slack voiced fricatives v̻   z̻ ʑ̻   ɦ̻
Liquids (w) l   (j)    

Shanghai dialect has a set of voiced initials and exhibits unvoiced unaspirated and aspirated stops. Moreover, there are unvoiced and voiced sets of fricatives. Palatalized initials also feature in Shanghai dialect. The /l/ consonant is also particular in that there is a slight flapping of the tongue during speech, somewhat similar to the Japanese /ɺ/ (which is romanized as r). The sound may be made by lightly placing the tongue on the back of the upper set of teeth. However this flapping is not present when each character is individually pronounced.

[edit] Rimes

Vowel Diphthong Nasal Ending Nasalised Rime Glottal Stop
    (m, n) ŋ    
ɿ        
ɥ        
i ii, iɪ, iɯ, iE, iɔ, ia iɲ, iiɲ, ioŋ iã iɪʔ, iɤʔ, ioʔ, iaʔ
y yø yiɲ   yɪʔ
u uE, uø, uo, ua uəɲ uã, uɒ̃ uɤʔ, uoʔ, uaʔ
ɪ       ɪʔ
ø        
ɤ ɤɯ     ɤʔ
o ou oŋ   oʔ
  ei      
ɚ        
    əɲ    
E        
ɔ        
a   aŋ ã aʔ
      ɒ̃  

The Middle Chinese [ -m ] ending rimes in Shanghai dialect have merged with [ -n ], some of which subsequently dropped off. Some Middle Chinese [ -ŋ ] ending rime characters have become rimes with a nasalised ending, [ iã, uã, uɒ̃ ]. Middle Chinese [ -p -t -k ] rimes have become glottal stops [ -ʔ ].

In certain variants, the [ u ] is pronounced unrounded (close back unrounded, [ ɯ ]).

[edit] Tones

Yin (陰) Yin Ping (陰平) Yin Shang Qu (陰上去) Yin Ru (陰入)
52 335 5
Yang (陽) Yang Shu (Yang Qu) (陽舒（陽去）) Yang Ru (陽入)
113 23

The Yang Shu tone is composed of Yang registers of the Ping, Shang and Qu tone characters. The Yin Ru and Yang Ru tones are abrupt tones, and apply only to those rimes in Shanghai dialect, which end in the glottal stop [ʔ]. If the Ru tone and tones automatically related to the voiced initials (b d g z v dʑ ʑ) are not considered (as they are fixed into the syllabic structure), then the Shanghai dialect has 2 live tonal contrasts (/52/ and /335/).

[edit] Advanced tone sandhi and argument for pitch accent classification:

In polysyllabic words or set phrases, all syllables after the first lose their original tones and are pronounced based on the table below as "neutral" syllables. Even the first syllable that determines subsequent pitches is altered in a polysyllabic word. The patterns vary depending on the number of syllables in the word or set short phrase.

1st syllable original tone　 2 syllables 3 syllables 4 syllables 5 syllables
52 55 - 21 55 - 22 - 21 55 - 22 - 22 - 21 55 - 22 - 22 - 22 - 21
H - L H - L - L H - L - L - L H - L - L - L - L
335 33 - 44 33 - 55 - 21 33 - 55 - 22 - 21 33 - 55 - 22 - 22 - 21
L - H L - H - L L - H - L - L L - H - L - L - L
113 22 - 44 22 - 55 - 21 22 - 55 - 22 - 21 22 - 55 - 22 - 22 - 21
L - H L - H - L L - H - L - L L - H - L - L - L
5 3 - 44 3 - 55 - 21 3 - 55 - 22 - 21 3 - 55 - 22 - 22 - 21
L - H L - H - L L - H - L - L L - H - L - L - L
23 2 - 34 2 - 22 - 34 2 - 22 - 22 - 34 2 - 22 - 22 - 22 - 34
L - H L - L - H L - L - L - H L - L - L - L - H

Note: H = relative high pitch; L = relative low pitch.

Notice that these patterns are quite similar to Japanese pitch accent patterns. Tone sandhi of polysyllabic compounds in the Shanghai dialect has attracted the interest of many scholars, who have previously given only careful consideration to the tone of the monosyllable while trying to describe the rules of tone sandhi for polysyllabic compounds. It has been argued that the number of tones of the Shanghai dialect, generally held to be five under previous analyses, can be reduced to only two underlying tone patterns, or tonemes, by recognizing the existence of the phoneme "voiced h" (Xiaowen Shen, University of Tokyo).

[edit] References

  • Lance Eccles, Shanghai dialect: an introduction to speaking the contemporary language. Dunwoody Press, 1993. ISBN 1-881265-11-0. 230 pp + cassette. (An introductory course in 29 units).

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


[edit] Chinese: spoken varieties  
Traditional categories:

Mandarin | Wu | Cantonese | Min | Hakka | Xiang | Gan
Other:

Jin | Hui | Ping
Unclassified:

Danzhouhua | Shaozhou Tuhua
Note: The above is only one classification scheme among many.
The categories in italics are not universally acknowledged to be independent categories.
Subcategories of Mandarin: Northeastern | Beijing | Ji-Lu | Jiao-Liao | Zhongyuan | Lan-Yin | Southwestern | Jianghuai | Dungan
Subcategories of Min: Min Bei | Min Nan
Min Dong | Min Zhong | Hainanese | Puxian | | Shaojiang
Comprehensive list of Chinese dialects
Official spoken varieties: Standard Mandarin | Standard Cantonese
Historical phonology: Old Chinese | Middle Chinese | Proto-Min | Proto-Mandarin | Haner
Chinese: written varieties
Official written varieties: Classical Chinese | Vernacular Chinese
Other varieties: Written Vernacular Cantonese
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