ANALYSIS ON GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF TRADITIONAL ZHUANG CHARACTERS: A CASE STUDY OF FUNCTION WORDS

Abstract

Traditional Zhuang character is an ancient Chinese-imitating writing system of Zhuang ethic group living in southern part of China for many thousands of years, drawing attention from lots of linguists at home and abroad. This study analyzes geographic distribution of traditional Zhuang’s variations by using Traditional Zhuang Character Dictionary and annotated translation of photomechanical printing of the scripture books of Doctor Bu Luo Tuo who is an ethnic Zhuang (Zhang Shengzhen, 2004). This is because the dictionary is the first and only collection of traditional Zhuang character so far, and the scripture books are the most complete gathering works of Doctor Bu Luo Tuo’s manuscripts from 8 places totaling 39 versions. The researcher uses dialectology and the study approach of Holm D. by categorizing variations and selecting representatives in order to analyze geographic distribution features of traditional Zhuang character’s variations in places where the Doctor’s scripture is found, including Basei, Tian Yang, Tian Dong, Dong Lan, Da Hua, Na Po, and Xi Chou. The research results show that the geographic distribution can be divided in accordance with features of: (1) boundaries including 1) You Jiang River area: Bai Se, Tian Yang, Tian Dong, Bama; 2) Hong Shui He River valley: Dong Lan and Da Hua; 3) western part of Guangxi province: Napo, and 4)Yunnan province: Xi Chou; and (2) continuum, with You Jiang River valley as the center. The geographic relationship decreases in accordance with distance from the east to the west.