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{{Short description|Chinese varieties spoken around Jiangxi}}
{{redirect|Gan language|the Gan language of Ghana|Gã language|the Gan language of Burkina|Kaansa language}}
{{redirect|Gan language|the Gan language of Ghana|Gã language|the Gan language of Burkina|Kaansa language}}
{{short description|primary branch of Chinese spoken in southern China}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2013}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
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| imagecaption = ''Gan ua'' (Gan) written in [[Chinese character]]s
| imagecaption = ''Gan ua'' (Gan) written in [[Chinese character]]s
| image = Ganyu.png
| image = Ganyu.png
| imagesize = 150px
| imagescale = 0.7
| altname = Gann<!--e.g. in Branner-->
| altname = Gann<!--e.g. in Branner-->
| nativename = {{lang|zh|贛語/赣语}} <br/>''Gon ua''
| nativename = {{lang|zh|贛語/赣语}} <br/>{{tlit|gan|Gon ua}}
| states = [[China]]
| states = [[China]]
| region = central and northern [[Jiangxi]], eastern [[Hunan]], eastern [[Hubei]], southern [[Anhui]], northwest [[Fujian]]
| region = central and northern [[Jiangxi]], eastern [[Hunan]], eastern [[Hubei]], southern [[Anhui]], northwest [[Fujian]]
| ethnicity = [[Gan people]]
| ethnicity = [[Gan people]]
| speakers = {{sigfig|22.2|2}} million
| speakers = {{sigfig|22.6|2}} million
| date = 2018
| date = 2021
| ref = <ref>{{Ethnologue23|gan}}</ref>
| ref = <ref>{{Ethnologue26|gan}}</ref>
| familycolor = Sino-Tibetan
| familycolor = Sino-Tibetan
| fam2 = [[Sinitic languages|Sinitic]]
| fam2 = [[Sinitic languages|Sinitic]]
| fam3 = [[Chinese language|Chinese]]
| fam4 = [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]]–Gan?
| ancestor = [[Old Chinese]]
| ancestor = [[Old Chinese]]
| ancestor2 = [[Eastern Han Chinese]]
| ancestor2 = [[Eastern Han Chinese]]
| ancestor3 = [[Middle Chinese]]
| ancestor3 = [[Middle Chinese]]
| script = [[Chinese character]]<br>[[Pha̍k-oa-chhi romanization|Pha̍k-oa-chhi]]
| script = [[Chinese character]]<br>Pha̍k-oa-chhi
| iso3 = gan
| iso3 = gan
| glotto = ganc1239
| glotto = ganc1239
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| lingua = 79-AAA-f
| lingua = 79-AAA-f
| map = Idioma gan.png
| map = Idioma gan.png
| mapcaption =
| mapcaption = {{imagefact|date=November 2022}}
| notice = IPA
| notice = IPA
| module = {{Chinese|child=yes|headercolor={{Infobox language/family-color|Sino-Tibetan}}
| module = {{Chinese|child=yes|headercolor={{Infobox language/family-color|Sino-Tibetan}}
|t=贛語|s=赣语|gan=Gon ua|h=Kàm-ngî|p=Gànyǔ
|t=贛語|s=赣语|gan=Gon ua|h=Kàm-ngî|p=Gànyǔ|y=gam yúh|j=gam3 jyu5
|t2=江西話|s2=江西话|gan2=Kongsi ua|p2=Jiāngxīhuà
|t2=江西話|s2=江西话|gan2=Kongsi ua|p2=Jiāngxīhuà|y2=gōng sāi wá|j2=gong1 sai1 waa2
|showflag=gan|altname=Jiangxi dialect|order=ts}}
|showflag=gan|altname=Jiangxi dialect|order=ts}}
| dialect_label = [[Varieties of Chinese|Varieties]]
| dia1 = [[Chang–Du Gan|Nanchangese]]
| dia2 = [[Yi–Liu Gan|Yichun]]
| dia3 = [[Ying–Yi Gan|Yingtan]]
| dia4 = [[Da–Tong Gan|Daye]]
}}
}}
'''Gan,''' '''Gann'''<ref>The double ''nn'' represents the falling tone in Mandarin</ref> or '''Kan''' is a group of [[Sinitic languages]] spoken [[first language|natively]] by many people in the [[Jiangxi]] province of China, as well as significant populations in surrounding regions such as [[Hunan]], [[Hubei]], [[Anhui]], and [[Fujian]]. Gan is a member of the [[Sinitic languages]] of the [[Sino-Tibetan language family]], and [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]] is the closest Chinese variety to Gan in terms of phonetics.
'''Gan,''' '''Gann'''<ref>The double ''nn'' represents the falling tone in Mandarin</ref> or '''Kan''' is a group of [[Sinitic languages]] spoken [[first language|natively]] by many people in the [[Jiangxi]] province of China, as well as significant populations in surrounding regions such as [[Hunan]], [[Hubei]], [[Anhui]], and [[Fujian]]. Gan is a member of the [[Sinitic languages]] of the [[Sino-Tibetan language family]], and [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]] is the closest Chinese variety to Gan in terms of phonetics.


Different dialects of Gan exist; the [[Nanchang dialect]] is usually taken as representative.
There are different dialects of Gan; the [[Nanchang dialect]] is the prestige dialect.


==Classification==
==Classification==
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{{Expand section|date=June 2008}}
{{Expand section|date=June 2008}}
Like all other varieties of [[Chinese language|Chinese]], there is a large amount of mutual unintelligibility between Gan Chinese and other varieties. Within the variation of Chinese dialects, Gan has more similarities with [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] than with [[Yue Chinese|Yue]] or [[Min Chinese|Min]]. However, Gan clusters more with [[Xiang Chinese|Xiang]] than Mandarin.
Like all other varieties of [[Chinese language|Chinese]], there is a large amount of mutual unintelligibility between Gan Chinese and other varieties. Within the variation of Chinese dialects, Gan has more similarities with [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] than with [[Yue Chinese|Yue]] or [[Min Chinese|Min]]. However, Gan clusters more with [[Xiang Chinese|Xiang]] than Mandarin.

Gan and other Southern Chinese languages can be distinguished from Northern Chinese by their placement of [[direct object]]s before [[indirect object]]s. Gan's [[Valency (linguistics) | ditransitive]] verbs introduce the theme right after the verb, while Mandarin's introduce the recipient. So the difference in tritransitive verbs may occur because they evolved from different types of ditransitive verbs. <ref>{{cite journal| last1 = Xuping Li | last2 = Yicheng Wu | journal = Language Sciences | title = Ditransitives in three Gan dialects: valence-increasing and preposition incorporation | doi =10.1016/j.langsci.2015.03.006}}</ref>


==Name==
==Name==
* ''Gan'': the most common name. Also spelled ''Gann'' to reflect the falling tone of the name in Mandarin. Scholars in mainland China use ''Gan'' or ''Gan dialect.''
* ''Gan'': the most common name. Also spelled ''Gann'' to reflect the falling tone of the name in Mandarin. Scholars in mainland China use ''Gan'' or ''Gan dialect.''
* ''Jiāngxī huà'' ("Jiangxi language") is commonly used in Chinese, but since the borders of the language do not follow the borders of the province, this name is not geographically exact.
* ''Jiāngxīhuà'' ("Jiangxi language") is commonly used in Chinese, but since the borders of the language do not follow the borders of the province, this name is not geographically exact.
* ''Xi'' ("right-river language"): an ancient name, now seldom used, arising from the fact that most Gan speakers live south of the [[Yangtze River]], beyond the right-hand bank when traveling downstream.
* ''Xi'' ("right-river language"): an ancient name, now seldom used, arising from the fact that most Gan speakers live south of the [[Yangtze River]], beyond the right-hand bank when traveling downstream.


==Region==
==Region==
[[Image:Map of sinitic languages-en.svg|thumb|300px|The area coloured in light yellow shows the Gan-speaking region in the PRC.]]
[[Image:Map of sinitic languages-en.svg|thumb|The area coloured in light yellow shows the Gan-speaking region in the PRC.]]


Most Gan speakers live in the middle and lower reaches of the [[Gan River]], the drainage area of the [[Fu River (Jiangxi)|Fu River]], and the region of [[Poyang Lake]]. There are also many Gan speakers living in eastern [[Hunan]], eastern [[Hubei]], southern [[Anhui]], northwest [[Fujian]], etc.
Most Gan speakers live in the middle and lower reaches of the [[Gan River]], the drainage area of the [[Fu River (Jiangxi)|Fu River]], and the region of [[Poyang Lake]]. There are also many Gan speakers living in eastern [[Hunan]], eastern [[Hubei]], southern [[Anhui]], northwest [[Fujian]], etc.
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==History==
==History==
{{uncited section|date=February 2024}}
{{main|History of Gan Chinese}}
{{main|History of Gan Chinese}}


===Antiquity===
===Antiquity===
During the [[Qin Dynasty]] (221 BC), a large number of troops were sent to southern China in order to conquer the [[Baiyue]] territories in [[Fujian]] and [[Guangdong]], as a result, numerous [[Han Chinese]] emigrated to [[Jiangxi]] in the years following.
During the [[Qin dynasty]] (221 BC), a large number of troops were sent to southern China in order to conquer the [[Baiyue]] territories in [[Fujian]] and [[Guangdong]], as a result, numerous [[Han Chinese]] emigrated to [[Jiangxi]] in the years following. In the early years of the [[Han dynasty]] (202 BC), [[Nanchang]] was established as the capital of the Yuzhang [[Commandery (China)|Commandery]] ({{lang|zh|豫章郡}}) (this name stems from the original name of [[Gan River]]), along with the 18 counties ({{lang|zh-Hant|縣}}) of [[Jiangxi|Jiangxi Province]]. The population of the Yuzhang Commandery increased from 350,000 (in AD 2) to 1,670,000 (by AD 140); it ranked fourth in population among the more than 100 contemporary commanderies of China. As the largest commandery of [[Yangzhou]], Yuzhang accounted for two fifths of the population and Gan gradually took shape during this period.
In the early years of the [[Han Dynasty]] (202 BC), [[Nanchang]] was established as the capital of the Yuzhang [[Commandery (China)|Commandery]] ({{lang|zh|豫章郡}}) (this name stems from the original name of [[Gan River]]), along with the 18 counties ({{lang|zh-Hant|縣}}) of [[Jiangxi|Jiangxi Province]]. The population of the Yuzhang Commandery increased from 350,000 (in AD 2) to 1,670,000 (by AD 140); it ranked fourth in population among the more than 100 contemporary commanderies of China. As the largest commandery of [[Yangzhou]], Yuzhang accounted for two fifths of the population and Gan gradually took shape during this period.


===Middle ages===
===Middle Ages===
As a result of continuous warfare in the region of central China, the first large-scale emigration in the history of China took place. Large numbers of people in central China relocated to southern China in order to escape the bloodshed and at this time, Jiangxi played a role as a transfer station. Also, during this period, ancient Gan began to be exposed to the northern [[Mandarin dialects]]. After centuries of rule by the [[Southern Dynasties]], Gan still retained many original characteristics despite having absorbed some elements of Mandarin.
As a result of continuous warfare in the region of central and Northern China, the first large-scale emigration in the history of China took place. Large numbers of people in central China relocated to southern China in order to escape the bloodshed caused by the [[upheaval of the Five Barbarians]] and at this time, Jiangxi played a role as a transfer station. Also, during this period, ancient Gan began to be exposed to the northern dialects. After centuries of rule by the [[Southern Dynasties]], Gan still retained many original characteristics despite having absorbed some elements of northern speech. Up until the [[Tang dynasty]], there was little difference between old Gan and the contemporary Gan of that era. Beginning in the [[Five Dynasties]] period, however, inhabitants in the central and northern parts of [[Jiangxi|Jiangxi Province]] began to migrate to eastern [[Hunan]], eastern [[Hubei]], southern [[Anhui]] and northwest [[Fujian]]. During this period, following hundreds of years of migration, Gan spread to its current areas of distribution.
Up until the [[Tang Dynasty]], there was little difference between old Gan and the contemporary Gan of that era. Beginning in the [[Five Dynasties]] period, however, inhabitants in the central and northern parts of [[Jiangxi|Jiangxi Province]] began to migrate to eastern [[Hunan]], eastern [[Hubei]], southern [[Anhui]] and northwest [[Fujian]]. During this period, following hundreds of years of migration, Gan spread to its current areas of distribution.


===Late traditional period===
===Late traditional period===
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==Languages and dialects==
==Languages and dialects==
There are significant differences within the Gan-speaking region, and Gan constitutes more languages than listed here. For example, in Anfu county, which was categorized as Ji-Cha, there are two main varieties, called Nanxiang Hua (Southern region) and Baixiang Hua (Northern region). People from one region cannot even understand people from the other region if they were not well educated or exposed to the other.
There are significant differences within the Gan-speaking region, and Gan constitutes more languages than listed here. For example, in Anfu county, which was categorized as Ji-Cha, there are two main varieties, called Nanxiang Hua (Southern region) and Beixiang Hua (Northern region). People from one region cannot even understand people from the other region if they were not well educated or exposed to the other.


[[Image:Gan Dialects.png|thumb|right|The main areas of Gan languages in Mainland China.]]
[[Image:Gan Dialects.png|thumb|right|The main areas of Gan languages in Mainland China.]]
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| rowspan="2" | Daye dialect
| rowspan="2" | Daye dialect
| southeastern Hubei
| southeastern Hubei
| [[Daye, Hubei|Daye]], [[Xianning]] City, Jiangyu, Puxin, Chongyang, Tongcheng, [[Tongshan County, Hubei|Tongshan]], [[Yangxin County, Hubei|Yangxin]], Jianli*
| [[Daye, Hubei|Daye]], [[Xianning]] City, Jiayu, Puqi, Chongyang, Tongcheng, [[Tongshan County, Hubei|Tongshan]], [[Yangxin County, Hubei|Yangxin]], Jianli*
|-
|-
| eastern Hunan
| eastern Hunan
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==Grammar==
==Grammar==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2024}}
In Gan, there are nine principal [[grammatical aspect]]s or "tenses" – initial ({{lang|zh|起始}}), progressive ({{lang|zh|進行}}), experimental ({{lang|zh|嘗試}}), durative ({{lang|zh|持續}}), processive ({{lang|zh|經歷}}), continuative ({{lang|zh|繼續}}), repeating ({{lang|zh|重行}}), perfect ({{lang|zh|已然}}), and complete ({{lang|zh|完成}}).
In Gan, there are nine principal [[grammatical aspect]]s or "tenses" – initial ({{lang|zh|起始}}), progressive ({{lang|zh|進行}}), experimental ({{lang|zh|嘗試}}), durative ({{lang|zh|持續}}), processive ({{lang|zh|經歷}}), continuative ({{lang|zh|繼續}}), repeating ({{lang|zh|重行}}), perfect ({{lang|zh|已然}}), and complete ({{lang|zh|完成}}).


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==Vocabulary==
==Vocabulary==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2024}}
In Gan, there are a number of archaic words and expressions originally found in [[Classical Chinese|ancient Chinese]], and which are now seldom or no longer used in Mandarin. For example, the noun "clothes" in Gan is "衣裳" while "衣服" in Mandarin, the verb "sleep" in Gan is "睏覺" while "睡覺" in Mandarin. Also, to describe something dirty, Gan speakers use "下里巴人", which is a reference to a song from the [[Chu (state)|Chu]] region dating to China's [[Spring and Autumn period]].
In Gan, there are a number of archaic words and expressions originally found in [[Classical Chinese|ancient Chinese]], and which are now seldom or no longer used in Mandarin. For example, the noun "clothes" in Gan is "衣裳" while "衣服" in Mandarin, the verb "sleep" in Gan is "睏覺" while "睡覺" in Mandarin. Also, to describe something dirty, Gan speakers use "下里巴人", which is a reference to a song from the [[Chu (state)|Chu]] region dating to China's [[Spring and Autumn period]].


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{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|2}}
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Chen Changyi |title=Summary of Gan}}
* {{Cite book |last=Chen |first=Changyi 陈昌仪 |title=Gàn fāngyán gàiyào |date=1991 |publisher=Jiangxi jiaoyu chubanshe |location=Nanchang Shi |language=zh |script-title=zh:贛方言概要 |trans-title=Outline of Gan Dialects}}
* {{Cite book |last=Chen Changyi |title=Chorography of languages in Jiangxi}}
* {{Cite book |last=Chen |first=Changyi 陈昌仪 |title=Jiāngxī Shěng fāngyánzhì |date=2005 |publisher=Fangzhi chubanshe |location=Beijing |language=zh |script-title=zh:江西省方言志 |display-authors=etal}}
* {{Cite book |last=Li |first=Rulong 李如龙 |title=Kè-Gàn fāngyán diàochá bàogào |last2=Chang |first2=Song-hing 张双庆 |date=1992 |publisher=Xiamen daxue chubanshe |location=Xiamen |language=zh |script-title=zh:客赣方言调查报告 |trans-title=A Report on a Survey of the Kejia and Gan Dialects}}
* {{Cite book |last=Li Rulong |title=Investigation of Gan-Hakka}}
* {{Cite book |last=Xiong Zhenghui |title=Dictionary of Nanchang Dialect}}
* {{Cite book |last=Xiong |first=Zhenghui 熊正辉 |title=Nánchāng fāngyán cídiǎn |date=1995 |publisher=Jiangsu jiaoyu |location=Nanjing |language=zh |script-title=zh:南昌方言词典 |trans-title=Nanchang Dialect Dictionary}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Yan |first=Sen 颜森 |date=1986 |title=Jiāngxī fāngyán de fēnqū (gǎo) |script-title=zh:江西方言的分区(稿) |trans-title=Grouping of Jiangxi Dialects (Draft) |journal=Fāngyán |language=zh |volume=1986 |issue=1 |pages=19–38 |script-journal=zh:方言}}
* {{Cite book |last=Yan Sen |title=Division of languages in Jiangxi}}
* {{Cite book |last=Yan Sen |title=Summary of modern Chinese·Gan}}
* {{Cite book |last=Yan Sen |title=Summary of modern Chinese·Gan}}{{incomplete reference|date=November 2021}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Coblin |first=W. South |url=http://www.ling.sinica.edu.tw/Files/LL/UploadFiles/MonoFullText/Gan-fulltext-150921.pdf |title=A Study of Comparative Gàn |date=2015 |publisher=Academia Sinica Institute of Linguistics |isbn=978-986-04-5926-5 |location=Taiwan |language=en |author-link=Weldon South Coblin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Coblin |first=W. South |url=http://www.ling.sinica.edu.tw/Files/LL/UploadFiles/MonoFullText/Gan-fulltext-150921.pdf |title=A Study of Comparative Gàn |date=2015 |publisher=Academia Sinica Institute of Linguistics |isbn=978-986-04-5926-5 |location=Taiwan |language=en |author-link=Weldon South Coblin |access-date=2019-02-01 |archive-date=2017-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525075512/http://www.ling.sinica.edu.tw/Files/LL/UploadFiles/MonoFullText/Gan-fulltext-150921.pdf |url-status=dead }}
* {{Cite book |last=Li |first=Xuping |title=A Grammar of Gan Chinese: The Yichun Language |date=2018 |publisher=De Gruyter Mouton |isbn=978-1501515798 |location=Berlin |language=en}}
* {{Cite book |last=Li |first=Xuping |title=A Grammar of Gan Chinese: The Yichun Language |date=2018 |publisher=De Gruyter Mouton |isbn=978-1501515798 |location=Berlin |language=en}}
* {{Cite web |title=Departing the Departing Tone: More Tones in Gan Dialects |url=http://www.amritas.com/120428.htm#04222351 |website=amritas.com |language=en}}
* {{Cite web |title=Departing the Departing Tone: More Tones in Gan Dialects |url=http://www.amritas.com/120428.htm#04222351 |website=amritas.com |language=en }}
* {{Cite web |title=Voiced-High Gan Dialects? |url=http://www.amritas.com/120421.htm#04212359 |website=amritas.com |language=en}}
* {{Cite web |title=Voiced-High Gan Dialects? |url=http://www.amritas.com/120421.htm#04212359 |website=amritas.com |language=en }}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


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{{interwiki|Gan language|code=gan}}
{{interwiki|Gan language|code=gan}}
* [http://www.glossika.com/en/dict/classification/gan/index.php Classification of Gan Dialects]
* [http://www.glossika.com/en/dict/classification/gan/index.php Classification of Gan Dialects]
* [http://www.zgganwang.org.cn/FangTan.shtml?kanwu=135 Jiangxi Provincial Gazetteer: dialects 江西省志: 方言志]
* [http://www.zgganwang.org.cn/FangTan.shtml?kanwu=135 Jiangxi Provincial Gazetteer: dialects 江西省志: 方言志] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229171524/http://www.zgganwang.org.cn/FangTan.shtml?kanwu=135 |date=2018-12-29 }}


{{Sino-Tibetan languages}}
{{Sino-Tibetan languages}}
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[[Category:Gan Chinese| ]]
[[Category:Gan Chinese| ]]
[[Category:Culture in Jiangxi]]
[[Category:Culture in Jiangxi]]
[[Category:Varieties of Chinese]]

Latest revision as of 15:41, 28 August 2024

"Gan language" redirects here. For the Gan language of Ghana, see Gã language. For the Gan language of Burkina, see Kaansa language.
Gan
Gann
贛語/赣语
Gon ua
Gan ua (Gan) written in Chinese characters
Native toChina
Regioncentral and northern Jiangxi, eastern Hunan, eastern Hubei, southern Anhui, northwest Fujian
EthnicityGan people
Native speakers
23 million (2021)[1]
Early forms
Varieties
Chinese character
Pha̍k-oa-chhi
Language codes
ISO 639-3gan
Glottologganc1239
Linguasphere79-AAA-f
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese贛語
Simplified Chinese赣语
GanGon ua
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinGànyǔ
Gan
RomanizationGon ua
Hakka
RomanizationKàm-ngî
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationgam yúh
Jyutpinggam3 jyu5
Jiangxi dialect
Traditional Chinese江西話
Simplified Chinese江西话
GanKongsi ua
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinJiāngxīhuà
Gan
RomanizationKongsi ua
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationgōng sāi wá
Jyutpinggong1 sai1 waa2
This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA.

Gan, Gann[2] or Kan is a group of Sinitic languages spoken natively by many people in the Jiangxi province of China, as well as significant populations in surrounding regions such as Hunan, Hubei, Anhui, and Fujian. Gan is a member of the Sinitic languages of the Sino-Tibetan language family, and Hakka is the closest Chinese variety to Gan in terms of phonetics.

There are different dialects of Gan; the Nanchang dialect is the prestige dialect.

Classification

[edit]
See also: Varieties of Chinese

Like all other varieties of Chinese, there is a large amount of mutual unintelligibility between Gan Chinese and other varieties. Within the variation of Chinese dialects, Gan has more similarities with Mandarin than with Yue or Min. However, Gan clusters more with Xiang than Mandarin.

Gan and other Southern Chinese languages can be distinguished from Northern Chinese by their placement of direct objects before indirect objects. Gan's ditransitive verbs introduce the theme right after the verb, while Mandarin's introduce the recipient. So the difference in tritransitive verbs may occur because they evolved from different types of ditransitive verbs. [3]

Name

[edit]
  • Gan: the most common name. Also spelled Gann to reflect the falling tone of the name in Mandarin. Scholars in mainland China use Gan or Gan dialect.
  • Jiāngxīhuà ("Jiangxi language") is commonly used in Chinese, but since the borders of the language do not follow the borders of the province, this name is not geographically exact.
  • Xi ("right-river language"): an ancient name, now seldom used, arising from the fact that most Gan speakers live south of the Yangtze River, beyond the right-hand bank when traveling downstream.

Region

[edit]
The area coloured in light yellow shows the Gan-speaking region in the PRC.

Most Gan speakers live in the middle and lower reaches of the Gan River, the drainage area of the Fu River, and the region of Poyang Lake. There are also many Gan speakers living in eastern Hunan, eastern Hubei, southern Anhui, northwest Fujian, etc.

According to the Diagram of Divisions in the People's Republic of China,[4] Gan is spoken by approximately 48,000,000 people: 29,000,000 in Jiangxi,[5] 4,500,000 in Anhui,[6] 5,300,000 in Hubei,[7] 9,000,000 in Hunan,[8] and 270,000 in Fujian.[9]

History

[edit]
Main article: History of Gan Chinese

Antiquity

[edit]

During the Qin dynasty (221 BC), a large number of troops were sent to southern China in order to conquer the Baiyue territories in Fujian and Guangdong, as a result, numerous Han Chinese emigrated to Jiangxi in the years following. In the early years of the Han dynasty (202 BC), Nanchang was established as the capital of the Yuzhang Commandery (豫章郡) (this name stems from the original name of Gan River), along with the 18 counties (縣) of Jiangxi Province. The population of the Yuzhang Commandery increased from 350,000 (in AD 2) to 1,670,000 (by AD 140); it ranked fourth in population among the more than 100 contemporary commanderies of China. As the largest commandery of Yangzhou, Yuzhang accounted for two fifths of the population and Gan gradually took shape during this period.

Middle Ages

[edit]

As a result of continuous warfare in the region of central and Northern China, the first large-scale emigration in the history of China took place. Large numbers of people in central China relocated to southern China in order to escape the bloodshed caused by the upheaval of the Five Barbarians and at this time, Jiangxi played a role as a transfer station. Also, during this period, ancient Gan began to be exposed to the northern dialects. After centuries of rule by the Southern Dynasties, Gan still retained many original characteristics despite having absorbed some elements of northern speech. Up until the Tang dynasty, there was little difference between old Gan and the contemporary Gan of that era. Beginning in the Five Dynasties period, however, inhabitants in the central and northern parts of Jiangxi Province began to migrate to eastern Hunan, eastern Hubei, southern Anhui and northwest Fujian. During this period, following hundreds of years of migration, Gan spread to its current areas of distribution.

Late traditional period

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Mandarin Chinese evolved into a standard language based on Beijing Mandarin, owing largely to political factors. At the same time, the differences between Gan and Mandarin continued to become more pronounced. However, because Jiangxi borders on Jianghuai, a Mandarin, Xiang, and Hakka speaking region, Gan proper has also been influenced by these surrounding varieties, especially in its border regions.

Modern times

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After 1949, as a "dialect" in Mainland China, Gan faced a critical period. The impact of Mandarin is quite evident today as a result of official governmental language campaigns. Currently, many youths are unable to master Gan expressions, and some are no longer able to speak Gan at all.

Recently, however, as a result of increased interest in protecting the local language, Gan now has begun to appear in various regional media, and there are also newscasts and television programs broadcast in Gan Chinese.

Languages and dialects

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There are significant differences within the Gan-speaking region, and Gan constitutes more languages than listed here. For example, in Anfu county, which was categorized as Ji-Cha, there are two main varieties, called Nanxiang Hua (Southern region) and Beixiang Hua (Northern region). People from one region cannot even understand people from the other region if they were not well educated or exposed to the other.

The main areas of Gan languages in Mainland China.

The Language Atlas of China (1987) divides Gan into nine groups:[10][11]

Subgroup Representative Provinces Cities
Changdu 昌都片 Nanchang dialect northwestern Jiangxi Nanchang City, Nangchang, Xinjian, Anyi, Yongxiu, Xiushui*, De'an, Xingzi, Duchang, Hukou, Gao'an*, Fengxin*, Jing'an*, Wuning*, Tonggu*
northeastern Hunan Pingjiang
Yiliu 宜浏片 / 宜瀏片 Yichun dialect central and western Jiangxi Yichun City, Yichun, Yifeng*, Shanggao, Qingjiang, Xingan, Xinyu City, Fen yi, Pingxiang City, Fengcheng, Wanzai
eastern Hunan Liuyang*, Liling
Jicha 吉茶片 Ji'an dialect central and southern Jiangxi Ji'an City, Ji'an*, Jishui, Xiajiang, Taihe*, Yongfeng*, Anfu, Lianhua, Yongxin*, Ninggang*, Jianggangshan* Wan'an, Suichuan*
eastern Hunan Youxian*, Chaling*, Linxian
Fuguang 抚广片 / 撫廣片 Fuzhou dialect (撫州, not to be confused with 福州) central and eastern Jiangxi Fuzhou City, Linchuan, Chongren, Yihuang, Le'an, Nancheng, Lichuan, Zixi, Jinxi, Dongxiang, Jinxian, Nanfeng, Guangchang*
southwestern Fujian Jianning, Taining
Yingyi 鹰弋片 Yingtan dialect northeastern Jiangxi Yingtan City, Guixi, Yujiang, Wannian, Leping, Jingdezhen*, Yugan, Poyang, Pengze, Hengfeng, Yiyang, Chuanshan
Datong 大通片 Daye dialect southeastern Hubei Daye, Xianning City, Jiayu, Puqi, Chongyang, Tongcheng, Tongshan, Yangxin, Jianli*
eastern Hunan Linxiang*, Yueyang*, Huarong
Leizi 耒资片 / 耒資片 Leiyang dialect eastern Hunan Leiyang, Changning, Anren, Yongxing, Zixing City
Dongsui 洞绥片 / 洞綏片 Dongkou dialect southwestern Hunan Dongkou*, Suining*, Longhui*
Huaiyue 怀岳片 / 懷嶽片 Huaining dialect southwestern Anhui Huaining, Yuexi, Qianshan, Taihu, Wangjiang*, Susong*, Dongzhi*, Shitai*, Guichi*

Cities marked with * are partly Gan-speaking.

Phonology

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Further information: Chang-Du dialect

Grammar

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In Gan, there are nine principal grammatical aspects or "tenses" – initial (起始), progressive (進行), experimental (嘗試), durative (持續), processive (經歷), continuative (繼續), repeating (重行), perfect (已然), and complete (完成).

The grammar of Gan is similar to southern Chinese varieties. The sequence subject–verb–object is most typical, but subject–object–verb or the passive voice (with the sequence object–subject–verb) is possible with particles. Take a simple sentence for example: "I hold you". The words involved are: ngo ("I" or "me"), tsot dok ("to hold"), ň ("you").

  • Subject–verb–object (typical sequence): The sentence in the typical sequence would be: ngo tsot dok ň. ("I hold you.")
  • Subject–lat–object–verb: Another sentence of roughly equivalent meaning is ngo lat ň tsot dok, with the slight connotation of "I take you and hold" or "I get to you and hold."
  • Object–den–subject–verb (the passive voice): Then, ň den ngo tsot dok means the same thing but in the passive voice, with the connotation of "You allow yourself to be held by me" or "You make yourself available for my holding."

Vocabulary

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In Gan, there are a number of archaic words and expressions originally found in ancient Chinese, and which are now seldom or no longer used in Mandarin. For example, the noun "clothes" in Gan is "衣裳" while "衣服" in Mandarin, the verb "sleep" in Gan is "睏覺" while "睡覺" in Mandarin. Also, to describe something dirty, Gan speakers use "下里巴人", which is a reference to a song from the Chu region dating to China's Spring and Autumn period.

Additionally, there are numerous interjections in Gan (e.g. 哈, 噻, and 啵), which can largely strengthen sentences, and better express different feelings.

Writing system

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Gan is written with Chinese characters, though it does not have a strong written tradition. There are also some romanization schemes, but none are widely used. When writing, Gan speakers usually use written vernacular Chinese, which is used by all Chinese speakers.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Gan Chinese at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Closed access icon
  2. ^ The double nn represents the falling tone in Mandarin
  3. ^ Xuping Li; Yicheng Wu. "Ditransitives in three Gan dialects: valence-increasing and preposition incorporation". Language Sciences. doi:10.1016/j.langsci.2015.03.006.
  4. ^ Zhōnghuá rénmín gònghéguó xíngzhèng qūhuà jiǎncè 中華人民共和國行政區劃簡冊 (in Chinese). 2004.
  5. ^ "Jiāngxī rénkǒu zhuàngkuàng" 江西人口状况. Fàn Zhū sānjiǎo hézuò xìnxī wǎng 泛珠三角合作信息网 (in Chinese). 9 September 2005. Archived from the original on 2006-01-13.
  6. ^ "Ānhuī rénkǒu kòngzhì: 14 niánshào shēng 800 wàn rén" 安徽人口控制：14年少生800万人. Xinhua (in Chinese). 7 January 2005. Archived from the original on 19 September 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2007.
  7. ^ "Húběi: Rénkǒu zǒngliàng chíxù dīsù zēngzhǎng qù niándǐ zǒng rénkǒu 6001.7 wàn" 湖北：人口总量持续低速增长 去年底总人口6001.7万. Zhōngguó rénkǒu 中国人口 (in Chinese). 2004-12-29. Archived from the original on May 5, 2006.
  8. ^ Tan, Keyang 谭克扬; Xu, Shangfeng 许尚锋; Shen, Nianzi 沈念梓; Li, Shuunguo 李顺国 (2005-01-06). Ah, Shui 阿水 (ed.). "Húnán rénkǒu dádào 6697 wàn 30 niánshào shēng "yīgè zhōngděng guójiā"" 湖南人口达到6697万 30年少生"一个中等国家". Xīnwén zhōngxīn 新闻中心 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on August 29, 2005.
  9. ^ Cheng, Xin 程歆; Liu, Changfeng 刘昌丰 (2005-01-13). "Fújiàn: Rénkǒu qùnián túpò 3500 wàn" 福建：人口去年突破3500万. Zhōngguó rénkǒu 中国人口 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on April 21, 2006.
  10. ^ Yan, Margaret Mian (2006). Introduction to Chinese Dialectology. München: LINCOM Europa. p. 148. ISBN 3-89586-629-6.
  11. ^ Kurpaska, Maria (2010). Chinese Language(s): A Look Through the Prism of the Great Dictionary of Modern Chinese Dialects. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. p. 70. ISBN 978-3-11-021915-9.
  12. ^ "Chinese, Gan". Ethnologue. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  • Chen, Changyi 陈昌仪 (1991). Gàn fāngyán gàiyào 贛方言概要 [Outline of Gan Dialects] (in Chinese). Nanchang Shi: Jiangxi jiaoyu chubanshe.
  • Chen, Changyi 陈昌仪; et al. (2005). Jiāngxī Shěng fāngyánzhì 江西省方言志 (in Chinese). Beijing: Fangzhi chubanshe.
  • Li, Rulong 李如龙; Chang, Song-hing 张双庆 (1992). Kè-Gàn fāngyán diàochá bàogào 客赣方言调查报告 [A Report on a Survey of the Kejia and Gan Dialects] (in Chinese). Xiamen: Xiamen daxue chubanshe.
  • Xiong, Zhenghui 熊正辉 (1995). Nánchāng fāngyán cídiǎn 南昌方言词典 [Nanchang Dialect Dictionary] (in Chinese). Nanjing: Jiangsu jiaoyu.
  • Yan, Sen 颜森 (1986). "Jiāngxī fāngyán de fēnqū (gǎo)" 江西方言的分区(稿) [Grouping of Jiangxi Dialects (Draft)]. Fāngyán 方言 (in Chinese). 1986 (1): 19–38.
  • Yan Sen. Summary of modern Chinese·Gan.[full citation needed]

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gan.
Look up Appendix:Gan Swadesh list in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Gan language edition of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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