SOHN Nam-Ho. (2009). The Influence of Chinese Tones on Chinese Loan Words in Dongxiang. Altai Hakpo 19: 113-137. The Altaic Society of Korea.

This paper aims to compare the pitch patterns of native Dongxiang words and Chinese loan words consisting of two syllables and to discuss the influence of Chinese tones on the pitch patterns of Chinese loan words in Dongxiang. The results of the pitch analysis of two syllable words in the Dongxiang language can be summarized as follows:

First, the pitch pattern of most native Dongxiang words consisting of two syllable words is the LH pattern (a low pitch on the first syllable and a high pitch on the second one). The HL pattern is rarely found in native Dongxiang words. But the HL pattern is more frequently observed in Chinese loan words. And some other pitch patterns are also observed because of the influence of the Chinese tones imposed on the loan words.

Second, tone 1 and 2 of Standard Chinese do not seem to affect the pitch pattern of Chinese loan words in the Dongxiang language. But the neutral tone following tone 1 or 2 tends to be realized as H in the LH pattern.

Third, tone 3 and 4 of standard Chinese are mapped onto L and H respectively in Chinese loan words with some exceptions. But tone 4 which is followed by the neutral tone is not mapped onto H.

Keywords: Dongxiang, Chinese, loan word, tone, pitch pattern