Literary versus Colloquial Distinction and Phonetic Strata in Huazhou Dialect

The distinction between literary and colloquial readings in Huazhou dialect is mainly reflected in the initials and finals and literary versus colloquial distinction purely composed of tones almost does not exist. In daily communication, Huazhou dialect is rich in literary and colloquial readings, covering 16 final groups, but the distribution of rhymes and final groups is not balanced. There is also an unbalanced distribution of literary versus colloquial distinction in different divisions, articulations and initials of the same rhyme and final group. In addition, literary and colloquial readings and division between the new and old are inextricably interwoven with urban and rural readings. In the course of its development and evolution, Huazhou dialect reflects the inherent components of the dialects inherited and developed on the basis of the northwest dialects during Tang and Song Dynasties and the different phonetic historical strata borrowed from the authoritative dialect or the common language.