Introduction and Detailed Information of Manchu Language

Origin

In the long history of evolution, the ancient Moru and Sushin people, through the continuous integration with the neighboring ethnic groups, the Manchu language also evolved from the Sushin - Jurchen language. Like other northern languages, Manchu was mainly influenced by Mongolian in its formation, and the two languages have a lot of **** common vocabulary, such as: bi (I), bayan (rich), mini (my), holo (valley), etc., but Manchu and Mongolian belong to different language groups, and the two sides can not talk to each other directly.

Manchu belongs to the Manchu branch of the Altaic-Tungus language family. Historians and historical comparative linguists agree that the peoples who spoke the various languages of the Altaic family originated in the north of China in the early days. Scholars generally agree that there are 12 languages in the Tungusic group***, mainly in China, Russia and Mongolia. In China, there are six languages: Manchu, Sibe, Hezhen, Ewenki, Oroqen, and Jurchen.

Manchu has 29 consonants in the written language, 3 of which are used to spell Chinese loanwords. There are 6 vowels, no difference between long and short, and there are compound vowels. The standard language of Manchu has a vowel harmony, but it is not very strict, and there is a phenomenon of phonological assimilation. It has the characteristics of an adherent language. The basic word order is SOV, i.e. subject in the front, object in the center and predicate in the back. Vocabulary is rich and can express grammatical meaning flexibly. Nouns have grammatical and numerical changes. Verbs have morphological variations such as tense, mood (note: different from tense), body, style, form-movement and sub-movement. Manchu is a language with rich and colorful forms of expression. There are some differences between the Manchu language and the Jurchen language of the Golden Age.

History

According to the Manchurian Real Records, in 1599, Nurhachu ordered Erdeni and Kagai to borrow the Mongolian alphabet to create the Manchu language. Although the two advisers had objections, Nurhachu continued to change the Mongolian alphabet into Manchu without circles, and this new script prevailed in Jianzhou at that time, which had a profound impact on the establishment of the Later Jin State. Later, Dahai added 12 characters, and the old Manchu text next to the circle, so that Manchu is more perfect, this new text is called "new Manchu", and passes in the Jin Dynasty.

Most of the first and middle of the Qing dynasty with Manchu issued edicts, grants, etc., to become a report, official documents, teaching, translation and daily life in the use of the main text. Before the Qianlong period of the Manchu language folders, far more than the separate Chinese folders. Shunzhi dynasty and before, more than a separate Manchu Zaozuo, Kangxi and Yongzheng two dynasties of Manchu and Chinese combined class Zaozuo majority, a separate Manchu or a separate Chinese are very few.

Qing Guangxu ten years (1884) after the establishment of Xinjiang, the number of people using the Manchu language up to more than 40,000 people. The Qing rulers adopted a policy of Sinicization to a large extent while maintaining the priority of the nobility.

The loss of the Manchu language was a process. Some sources confirm that up to the end of the Qing Dynasty, some of the lower classes in the capital still used the Manchu language, and it was only after the Xinhai period that it gradually disappeared. However, in the mid-to-late 20th century, only in a few villages in the Heilongjiang and Nenjiang valleys, there were still some daily conversations in Manchu.

Misconceptions

There is a widely circulated rumor that the reason for the warbling of the Chinese dialects is the influence of Manchu Chinese pronunciation.

In fact, Manchu has no consonants.

Pronunciation

According to modern scholars, Manchu in the Qing Dynasty was divided into four dialects: Nan Yin, Bei Yin, Dong Yin, and Xi Yin. To the Liaoning Province, especially the Shengjing (Shenyang) city around the accent known as the southern sound, there are belong to this dialect area of the Jianzhou sound standard tone preparation of the text (Manchu); to the Heilongjiang Province, as well as the Heilongjiang north of the vast area of the accent for the northern sound, the accent and the Hezhe, Oroqen and other close to the accent; from the Ussuri River to the East China Sea belongs to the East of the spoken language is known as East sound; the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, the Banner people moved into the city of Beijing After the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, the written language (i.e., Jianzhou spoken language) as the standard language, but also bring their own local dialects and local rhetoric spoken words eventually formed the Beijing spoken language, that is, Xiyin. The Xiyin is generally consistent with the Jianzhou spoken language.

The written language of the native Manchu language has 6 vowel positions and 19 consonant positions. Vowels are divided into yang, yin, and neutral, and homophonic vowels harmonize with each other, as do consonants. Manchu letters are written differently at the beginning, middle and end of words.

Phonetic Alphabet

The following table lists the Mulinde transcription/Taichung transcription (Taichung transcription in parentheses when the letters used in Taichung transcription differ from those used in Mulinde transcription) and the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

Consonants

Lip sounds

Alveolar sounds

Lobular sounds/hard palate sounds

Soft palate sounds, uvular sounds

Nasal sounds

m /m/

n /n/

ng /? /

Plosives and fricatives

Voiced consonants

p /p?/

t /t?/

c(q) /? /

k /k?, q?/

Unaspirated consonants

b /p/

d /t/

j /? /

g /k, q/

fricative

f /f/

s /s/

? (x) /? /

h /x, χ/

Vibrato

r /r/

Proximo

w /w/

l /l/

y /j/

Where soft palatal and uvular sounds are not opposites in the vernacular /k?, k, x/ is spelled with e, i, and u, and /q?, q, χ/ is spelled with a, o, ū(v)], but can be opposable in foreign languages (/k?, k, x/ can be spelled with a, o, ū(v), and Mulinde transcription/Taiqing transcription k', g', h').

Three other foreign consonants: ts' (c) /? /, dz (z) /? /? (r') /? /.

Vowels

Before

Middle

After

i /i/

u /u/

e /? /

ū /? /

a /ɑ/

o /? /

a, o, and ū(v) are masculine vowels, e is a feminine vowel, and i and u are neutral vowels.

Similar to Turkic and Mongolian languages, which also belong to the Altaic family, there is vowel harmony in Manchu, i.e., the stem vowel determines the affix vowel, and if the stem ends in a, e, o, the affixes end in the same vowel, e.g., sula-ha, mute-le; and if the stem ends in i, u, the affixes tend to have an e, e.g., bi-he, ku-he.

Syllabic structure

Manchu is close to open-syllable languages. Vowels and "n" consonants make up the majority of words with word-final consonants. Some Manchu words have compound consonants separating vowels, such as abka (rain, sky) and ilha (flower); most other words have single consonants separating vowels. This quality of open-syllable language is certain in the southern dialect of Manchu, which is a written language, but not necessarily so in other dialects. After hundreds of years of development and absorption of the languages of other female tribes and Xibo and other ethnic groups, the Manchu language in Beijing underwent a phonological change, giving rise to a new dialect called "Jingyin". It is characterized by the non-pronunciation of the b in -mbi at the end of verbs, the very light pronunciation of the vowels in ci and ji, and the pronunciation of ong and oi as eng and ei. However, the spoken and written languages of Manchu are the same, and when a sound change occurs, the written language changes as well.

Grammar

The Manchu vocabulary consists of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, numerals, postpositions, conjunctions, onomatopoeia, onomatopoeia, exclamations, and auxiliaries. Nouns and pronouns have grammatical and numerical variations. Numbers are categorized as base and ordinal. Adjectives have degree and rank variations. Verbs have tense and grammatical and stylistic variations, which are divided into present, past, and future tenses, active, passive, and imperative, declarative, imperative, and conditional. The phenomenon of borrowing from other languages is more obvious in Manchu nouns.

In terms of the characteristics of the Altaic language family, the subject-subject complex of Manchu is more developed. For example:

abka de deyere gasha bi (there are flying birds in the sky) The direct translation of this sentence is: sky, (locative auxiliary), fly, bird, have.

niyalma de tusa arambi (to give convenience to people) This sentence is directly translated as: people, to, convenience, give.

Manchu was influenced by other languages

Manchu also absorbed a lot of Chinese loanwords and pronunciations. For example, the non-round-lipped vowel (y), for example, sy (Buddhist temple), sycuwan (Sichuan); Chinese fricative, for example, dzengse (orange), tsun (inch). In addition to Chinese loanwords, Manchu also has loanwords from other languages, such as Mongolian. Examples are morin (horse) and temen (camel).

Vowel harmony

There is vowel harmony in Manchu; in principle, a, o, and ū are masculine vowels, e is feminine, and i and u are neutral, but the rules for multisyllabic stems are more complex. If the stem is a masculine vowel, the back suffix is also a masculine vowel, if the stem is o then the vowel of the back suffix sometimes becomes o. Other conditions are generally feminine vowels.

Nouns

Although sometimes the different vowels in the stem represent things of different genders, and the general rule is that a is used for masculine things and e for feminine things, there is no real grammatical gender in Manchu.

Manchu nouns are divided into singular and plural. Nouns in the plural form of kinship are followed by -ta/-te/-ri, and the -n at the end of the stem tends to disappear when they are used. In general nouns, -sa/-se/-so/-si is added at the end of the stem

Nouns in Manchu can be basically divided into five compartments, which are as follows:

Main compartment: the basic form of the word, which indicates the person who performs the action. No affixes are added

Genitive - Instrumental: It indicates subordination or the use of an instrument for the action. Words are followed by i, but nouns ending in ng are followed by ni

Gerund-aspect: the place or direction where the action takes place. The word is followed by de

Object: the recipient of the action. Add be after the word

Text

Main entry: Manchu

Introduction

Manchu is a phonetic script written vertically from top to bottom and from left to right. It is a fully phonetic script.

Manchu is derived from the traditional Mongolian script, which can be traced back to the ancient migratory bird script, and the Jurchen script from the Khitan script, which is derived from the Chinese characters (see the entry on Jurchen script).

Manchu digitization

Manchu unicode font and input method has been introduced, and can be computer input and display correctly; Manchu input method mainly has the Mongolian Keli Manchu input method, too Qing Manchu input method, etc., and the mobile terminal has the Dulejia Manchu input method, Anami Dictionary; Wikimedia Incubator has the experimental version of the Manchu Wikipedia, which is a combination of the traditional Manchu and the Latin transcription; Manchu Wikipedia Library contains a number of ancient books in Manchu, displayed in traditional Manchu. Currently in the process of entry.

The study of Manchu has officially become a major discipline at Heilongjiang University; folk classes in Manchu have also begun to appear in some cities and on the Internet.

In March 2005, Sanjiajia Manchu School was established

On October 1, 2005, the Harbin Engineering University Manchu-Tungus Language Research Association (student association) was registered, and on October 23 of the same year, the first compulsory education Manchu primary class was opened at Harbin Engineering University. In November of the same year, Professor Zhao Aping of the Institute of Manchu Language of Heilongjiang University was invited to give an academic lecture on the current situation of the Manchu language. on April 9, 2006, the second phase of the compulsory education of the primary class of the Manchu language.

On May 15, 2006, Northeast Agricultural University Manchurian Lover's Association (student association) was registered and established. on May 27, 2006, the first phase of the compulsory education Manchu primary class was opened.

In June 2008, Harbin Science and Technology Vocational College in A-cheng District, Harbin City, Harbin City, included the Manchu language in the scope of enrollment, and became the only college in the country to open a Manchu language secondary school in higher vocational colleges and universities, and the first phase of the program enrollment of 30 people.

In April 2009, the media reported that the national primary school in Moli Street Village, Xiangfang District, Harbin City, was facing a shortage of students after two years of Manchu language classes.

In September 2009, a Manchu language school was established in Jiangyuan District, Baishan City.

In 2011, a Manchu language class was taught at the Central University for Nationalities.

In May, 2012, the teaching of Manchu language was launched in Benxi City, Liaoning Province.

In December 2012, the Affiliated High School of the Renmin University of China (RUC) started a Manchu language program based on student clubs. At the end of the same year, after the establishment of the NPC Affiliated Middle School Manchu Club, Fushun First Middle School, Peking University Affiliated Middle School and other middle schools have also sprung up related clubs, elective courses.

Current Situation of the Manchu Language

In 2010, a reporter visited Beijing and found that there were no schools teaching the Manchu language, and very few people knew the language. As a part of Chinese culture, the Manchu language has been in decline. The Qing historical materials recorded in Manchu are also gradually sinking into the river of history. Manchu declined in the late Qing Dynasty, and by the end of the last century, only some elderly people in Heilongjiang were still able to speak it.

CPPCC member Zhao Zhiqiang called for the rescue of Manchu. Zhao Zhiqiang said, the Manchu language is an important tool for the study of Qing history. A large number of Manchu documents need to be translated, the lack of Manchu language talent, should attract the necessary attention.

Sanjiajia Manchu School

"Ilan Boo" is Manchu ilan boo, which translates into Chinese as "Sanjiajia", a village in Fuyu County, Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang Province." The village was established during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, more than three hundred years ago.

Sanjiajia village is located in the southwest of Fuyu County, Heilongjiang Province, more than 40 kilometers away from Qiqihar City, the Qineng Railway passes by on its east side, and the famous Nenjiang River Loop is on its west side.

At the end of 2005, it was reported on the Internet that Sanjiazi, which is under the jurisdiction of Fuyu County in Qiqihar City, was preparing to build the country's first Manchu-language school, confirming that the Sanjiazi Manchu-language elementary school had opened on March 1st. At first, the Sanziazi Manchu language school was a difficult teaching environment with a weak teaching staff.

The history of Manchu is very short

Mr. Jin Baosen told reporters that Manchu is a phonetic script. The history of the Manchu people is long, but the appearance of the Manchu language is relatively late. Until 1599, Nurhachu ordered to reform the Manchu language in Mongolian, only the so-called "old Manchu".

In 1632, Huang taiji made literalists to improve the old Manchu, in the letters of the right side of the increase in the circle, in order to distinguish between the original can not distinguish between the syllables of the letters, but also absorbed the Chinese language components, the creation of spelling borrowed words with the syllables. This text is called the new Manchu.

The Qianlong Emperor in order to consolidate and strengthen the feudal rule, the Oracle Ru Chen proposed the Manchu seal script. Since then, a lot of valuable documents are transcribed by the Manchu seal script.

According to Mr. Jin, there are many top-secret archives in the Qing court written in Manchu, so the significance of studying Manchu for the study of Qing history can be seen.

Zhao said that from the emergence of Manchu to its decline, there were only a few hundred years. This short course of development is inextricably linked to the fusion of cultures.

Manchu is mainly used for research

At Mr. Jin's home, there are Manchu calligraphy and monographs on Manchu language research everywhere. Mr. Jin said that the Manchu language has been in decline, and the use of Manchu is basically limited to the field of research.

The Institute of Manchu Studies at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences is the only research institute of Manchu studies in China. The reporter visited the institute and learned that several young PhDs are doing hard work to advance Manchu studies.

Assistant researcher Xiao Dai majored in Manchu language research, Xiao Dai had gone deep into the villages of Qiqihar to record the Manchu language used by local elders." It was the oldest Manchu language, only a few people could speak it, and when they left, they took those precious Manchu languages with them."

Dai, along with another Manchu doctor at the institute, is working on translating and organizing the Manchu literature. This is a voluminous project that requires researchers to endure loneliness.

According to Mr. Jin Baosen, the First Historical Archives of China **** more than 9 million pieces of Ming and Qing dynasty archives, of which only 3,600 pieces of Ming dynasty archives, the rest are Manchu or Manchu-Chinese combination of Qing dynasty archives. The library of the Palace Museum library in Manchu also has a collection of more than 16,000 books. In addition, many libraries around the country also have books in Manchu. Manchu archives is a rich treasure trove, but the Manchu language talent has been few and far between.

Scholarly advice

People often ask Mr. Jin Baosen for calligraphy, and the old man likes to write in both Chinese and Manchu. At Mr. Jin's home, a Manchu word for "longevity" often aroused the curiosity of guests. Even in the eyes of professional researchers like Dai, knowing Manchu calligraphy is an enviable thing.

But in any case, the original Manchu has been far from the public life. Rescuing the Manchu script is to keep a key to open the history. Zhao Zhiqiang said, there are a lot of Manchu documents that need to be translated, we need more power to put into the rescue work.

Manchu names

Some Manchu words are still preserved in place names, here are a few examples:

Shenyang's old translations: "Moukden" (French), "Mukden" (English) from the Manchu "Shengjing (mukden hoton)"

Fakū, fakū, fisheliang

Pulandian. bula, bramble

Harbin, harbin, tanning ground

Yilan, ilan, three, i.e., the three surnames ilan hala

Mudanjiang, mudan, zigzag. Mudan River in the Qing Dynasty called Huerha River, that is, ancient Khuhan water.

Zalantun, jalan, sen leader.

Yakeshi, yaksa, a "bend in the river", meaning "fortress".

Manzhouli, manju, Manchuria, the old name for Manchuria and the northeast.

Shangdu, meaning "water whirlpool".

Tumen, tumen, wan

Hunchun, huncun, the name is derived from a Jin Dynasty female language.

Hualong, holo, valley

Jilin, girin, along

Yanji, from yanggir iman, wild goat

Acheng, or Alchukha alcuka

Ning'an, or Ningguta ningguta, from ninggun, six

Lalin. lalin

Tumen River, tumen ula

Ussuri River, usuri ula

Songhua River, songari ula

urn sound street in Antu County, from urangga hada, a sounding peak, in Chinese, urn sound boulder.

Ermu town, from emhe soro, Ermuhe soro.