西夏語的緊元音及其起源

The Tense Vowels in Tangut and Their Origins

本文從各種角度重新檢討鬆緊元者相配的關係，從構詞法上鬆緊元音對立的情形，可以看出鬆緊元音的轉換有由他動詞造動詞使動式、由自動詞造他動詞或動詞使動式、由名詞、形容詞或其他詞類造動詞使動式、以及由動詞造名詞等作用，並從所蒐集的鬆緊元者轉換的例子，發現緊元音同時與長、短鬆元音以及長、短捲舌元音有轉換關係。由此現象推測緊元音是後起的。本文指出清的送氣聲母在變成緊元音時往往變成不送氣的緊元音，並把這種現象解釋是受詞頭所影響，從藏緬語的比較研究來印證，確定這個詞頭是原始藏緬語的詞頭或複輔音的第一個成分 *s-。

This paper investigates the phonological alternations between lax and tense vowels from various points of view and studies the functions of these alternations. The study reveals that the tense vowels, which are always short, not only alternate with short and long lax vowels but also with short and long retroflex vowels. This is interpreted as indicating the secondary nature of the tense vowels. Another important phenomenon observed is that aspirated voiceless initial consonants alternate with unaspirated voiceless consonants. This is interpreted as the aspirated consonants having lost their aspirations due to the influence of the lost prefix when the lax vowels become tense. It is argued that there was a sort of prefix in Pre-Tangut which was dropped after it had exerted its influence on the following consonants. The comparative study of Tangut and other Tibeto-Burman languages, especially Written Tibetan, reveals that the lost prefix was *s-.