梵汉对音与汉语语音认知

Phonological comparison between Sanskrit and Chinese and the recognition of Chinese phonology

随着佛经的传入及翻译,汉人在研习梵文的基础上,对汉语语音的认知由笼统到细微,且能突破表意文字的束缚进行汉语语音结构分析,这不能不说是一项创举。基于对梵文字母及其拼合方式的认识,汉人总结出汉梵两种语言语音系统存在的差异;通过比较,对汉语发音部位、发音方法、介音与韵尾、音节拼合及其变化的认知也逐渐清晰起来,并最终以韵图的形式完整勾勒出汉语语音系统。可以说,梵汉对音是感知汉语语音系统的重要催化剂,是观察汉语语音系统的重要参照物,是奠定汉语语音研究的基石。

With the introduction and translation of Indian Buddhist scriptures,ancient Chinese scholars gained increasing knowledge of Sanskrit and their understanding of Chinese phonology gradually became more systematic and comprehensive.They pioneeringly broke through the limits of ideographic characters which is a milestone in the study of Chinese phonology.Based on their studies of Sanskrit letters and spellings,ancient Chinese scholars noticed the differences between the two phonological systems via Sanskrit-Chinese comparison,and they observed more details concerning the place of articulation,manner of articulation,medial vowel,syllabic ending and the combination and change of syllables in Chinese.As a result,Chinese phonological system was outlined in the form of rhyme tables,which reflects the influential role of Sanskrit-Chinese comparison in the perception of Chinese phonology.