Article

Name: The main phonetic features of the Nanai idiom Hedzeni

Authors: V. S. Kharitonov

The Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation

In the section Фонетика

Abstract:

This article provides a detailed account of the primary phonetic characteristics unique to the Hedzeni idiom, a dialect spoken by the Nanai ethnosocial group residing in the village of Dada within the Nanai district of Khabarovsk Krai. The analysis centers on the distinctions between standard Nanai and Hedzeni, focusing on the velarized pronunciation of affricates preceding non-front vowels, the monophthongization of AI → Ī and AO → Ō in morphemes that are not initial or root morphemes, and associated phenomena such as the formation of causative and imperative verb forms. When the verb root ends in an affricate, an interesting phenomenon is observed where two competing trends, the velarization of affricates preceding non-front vowels and the monophthongization of vowels, are present. A detailed consideration is given to the sociolinguistic context of contemporary linguistic phenomena concerning speaker perceptions of native language phonology, specifically as it relates to the Cyrillic script of the predominantly Russian-speaking population. Several observation methods are presented for determining the acceptability of pronunciation variants. Of particular note is the unacceptability marked by a shift from Nanai to Russian when discussing the Nanai language or its dialectal variations. Following careful academic reflection, this paper presents practical recommendations for the development of the Nanai language and its revitalization through various practices, including the crucial work of developing a standardized Nanai orthography.

Keywords: Nanai language, dialectology, phonology, language attitude, language planning

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