Tone Sandhi Features of Diminutives in Jiashan Dialect

Yue Xu
2011 Bulletin of Chinese Linguistics  
Diminutive forms in Jiashan dialect have a high level tone 55. Although the tone of the diminutives always falls over one or two syllables, it cannot appear alone. It must occur as a sandhi tone when forming fixed diminutive forms in conjunction with other syllables. These diminutives now only express an emphatic or relaxed sense, while the basic and original meanings have been bleached. These qualities make the diminutives difficult to recognize.
doi:10.1163/2405478x-90000085 fatcat:4pwhqx76lzcghhjk2ksbmugoum