|
One of the characteristics of the Minnan language is the choice of a literal pronunciation or a colloquial pronunciation according to different occasions and words; the formation of the literal and colloquial pronunciations of the Minnan language has a historical origin, so we say that the phenomenon of literal and colloquial pronunciations is an accumulation of historical and geographical levels, a superposition of language layers. In general, there is no specific concept of the language level of literal and colloquial, but only a semi-arbitrary choice of language through convention.
When there are different pronunciation options for language use, how should these literal and colloquial phenomena be presented in Minnan language course materials? How do the instructors describe and distinguish them? By examining the textbooks and collecting data on the pronunciation of different age groups, we can understand whether there are certain age and environmental differences in the choice of pronunciation of different words, and further identify the basis for the use of literal and colloquial reading instruction.
In this study, we took 190 words in the Minnan language textbooks of elementary schools that had a literal-to-colloquial pronunciation and asked the pronouncers to read the words. It was found that Minnan language speakers, in addition to the pronunciation of the fixed vocabulary, the younger age group was influenced by the frequency of occurrence in their lives, the tendency to link Mandarin pronunciation, or the direct use of Mandarin. The middle-aged and the elderly, who have some contact with the Mandarin language, choose either literal or colloquial pronunciation according to their interpretation of the meaning and nature of the words, i.e., they may or may not adopt the Mandarin pronunciation; however, the middle-aged tend to choose literal pronunciation, while the elderly tend to stick to colloquial pronunciation. Therefore, when it comes to the choice between the literal and the colloquial pronunciation, the pronunciation of unfamiliar words is actually based on the familiar pronunciation.
This study begins with the identification of factors that affect the stability of the pronunciation of literal-colloquial, then proposes recommendations for teaching materials, and finally explains the limitations and perspectives of this study. The study will serve as a reference for teachers and textbook writers.
|