关于轻声的界定

On defining “qingsheng”

轻声一词常有歧义,一个意思指重音层面上与重音相对的非重读音节,另一个意思指声调层面上与四声相对的中和声调。本文主张分别使用“轻音”和“轻声”来表示上述两个不同的意思。“轻音”表示重音层面上的非重读音节,“轻声”表示声调层面上的中和声调,并对两者的关系进行了论述。

“Qingsheng”(轻声) has often been used ambiguously to mean both the unstressed syllable on the stress plane and the neutral tone on the tone plane. This paper proposes to use “qingyin”(轻音)to refer to the unstressed syllable on the stress plane and “qingsheng” to indicate the neutral tone on the tone plane. It also discusses the relation between “qingyin” and “qingsheng”.