With the majority of its linguistic data taken from the author’s field surveys and the survey reports about Lan-Yin Mandarin published in recent years, this book describes and discusses in detail the synchronic features and diachronic evolution of the initials, finals and tones in Lan-Yin Mandarin.
Regarding initials, the book discusses the current discrimination and indiscrimination of “n-”and “l-” and the geographic differences demonstrated, the way of phonetic change in the formal and informal pronunciations of open-mouth words of the second grade of the jian group, and phonetic value and quality of zero-initial, etc. Regarding finals, the book discusses the evolution of the nasal final of the mid-ancient yangsheng rhyme, the simplification of the rhyme category, the difference between the formal and informal pronunciations of entering-tone rhymes, and the friction of closed vowels, etc. Regarding tones, the author studies the evolution of the tones of Lan-Yin Mandarin from the perspective of individual tones as well as that of consecutive tones, and also explains the phenomenon of “the neutral tone being neither light nor short” in Chinese dialects.

Zhang Yanlai, Ph.D. in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, has visited University of Saskatchewan and McMaster University in Canada for academic and research purposes, and has taught Chinese abroad as a teacher sent by Hanban. Her research focusing on social linguistics, second language teaching, and language and culture, Ms. Zhang has published several papers in key national journals such as Zhongguo Yuwen (Chinese Language), Language Teaching and Linguistic Studies,Linguistic Sciences, and Linguistic Research.