Proto-Min

Proto-Min
Simplified model of the evolution of varieties of Chinese
Traditional Chinese	原始閩語
Simplified Chinese	原始闽语
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Yuánshǐ Mǐnyǔ Southern Min Hokkien POJ Goân-sí Bân-gí Eastern Min Fuzhou BUC Nguòng-sṳ̄ Mìng-ngṳ̄ Pu-Xian Min Hinghwa BUC Ngé̤ng-sî Máng-gṳ̂ Northern Min Jian'ou Romanized Ngûing-sǐ Mâing-ngṳ̌

Proto-Min is a comparative reconstruction of the common ancestor of the Min group of varieties of Chinese. Min varieties developed in the relative isolation of the Chinese province of Fujian and eastern Guangdong, and have since spread to Taiwan, southeast Asia and other parts of the world. They contain reflexes of distinctions not found in Middle Chinese or most other modern varieties, and thus provide additional data for the reconstruction of Old Chinese.

Jerry Norman reconstructed the sound system of proto-Min from popular vocabulary in a range of Min varieties, including new data on varieties from inland Fujian. The system has a six-way manner contrast in stops and affricates, compared with the three-way contrast in Middle Chinese and modern Wu varieties and the two-way contrast in most modern Chinese varieties. A two-way contrast in sonorants is also reconstructed, compared with the single series of Middle Chinese and all modern varieties. Evidence from early loans into other languages suggests that the additional contrasts may reflect consonant clusters or minor syllables.

The Min homeland consists of most of the province of Fujian, and the adjacent eastern part of Guangdong. The area features rugged mountainous terrain, with short rivers that flow into the South China Sea. After the area was first settled by Chinese during the Han dynasty, most subsequent migration from north to south China passed through the valleys of the Xiang and Gan rivers to the west. Min varieties have thus developed in relative isolation.