The Sound Patterns of Taiwanese Southern Min

Southern Min – the most commonly spoken variant of Taiwanese – has over 100 million speakers. This book provides the first comprehensive analysis of Taiwanese Southern Min (TSM) phonology, filling a critical gap in linguistic research. It demonstrates how the language’s sound patterns have evolved over time, and explores its key phonological and tonal features. Beginning with an overview of the language’s phonological system, it progresses to specialized topics, including segmental and tonal mutations, tonal domains, and metrical structures. Grounded in three purpose-built corpora, it integrates empirical data and statistical analyses to illuminate phonological processes and patterns. It also explores rarely addressed topics, including phonological interfaces, the rhythms of poetry and folk ballads, and the iGeneration dialectal variety, providing analytical clarity on complex phenomena. Serving as both a detailed reference for researchers and a supplementary text for phonology and Asian linguistics courses, its illuminating insights will inspire further research into this intricate linguistic system.

Author Biography

Yuchau E. Hsiao is Distinguished Professor of Linguistics at the Graduate Institute of Linguistics, National Chengchi University, Taiwan. As a theoretical phonologist specializing in Chinese languages, his research centers on tone and prosody. He has received numerous awards in Taiwan in recognition of his scholarly achievements and humanistic contributions.