The motivations and limits of Mandarin contact-induced evolution: A case study of Xiaoling Junhua in contact with Min dialects in Hainan

The correspondence patterns between phonological structures and ancestral languages are crucial criteria for determining the genetic classification of Chinese dialects. As a Mandarin dialect, Xiaoling Junhua has undergone changes in the initials [tʰ] and [x] due to contact with Hainan Min dialects. The original [x] initial splits by imitating the phonetic values of neighboring dialects, challenging the phonological structure. Consequently, the related phonemes in the initial system underwent reorganization and the reestablishment of contrast patterns, ultimately preserving the Mandarin phonological framework. The structural adjustments in Xiaoling Junhua were influenced by both internal and external factors. Internally, they were constrained by the phonological rules of Mandarin, while externally, the dialect’s relatively high social status and the speakers’ self-identity played a role. These dual factors prompted Xiaoling to maintain its Mandarin phonological structure, thereby ensuring the stability of its genetic classification.