Ersu

This paper provides a detailed analysis of sandhi patterns in Ersu (Qiangic, Tibeto-Burman). Using an experimental approach, we summarize synchronically productive sandhi patterns and explore the derivational relationship (1) between the two contrastive lexical tones on monosyllabic words and multiple tonal patterns on polysyllabic words, and (2) between tonal patterns on polysyllabic words in isolation and in connected speech. This study contributes to a better understanding of the prosodic organization of Ersu, and provides new data and new insights to understand the typology and diachrony of prosodic systems in Tibeto-Burman languages of the Chinese Southwest.

尔苏语是川西南 20 世纪 80 年代新发现小语种之一。尔苏语高度濒危。本文从濒危语言记录和典藏的 角度出发，讨论了尔苏语拼音方案的构建要点。一是简要介绍尔苏语分布、人口、地方土语; 二是介绍尔苏语濒 危的主要原因，以及尔苏语典藏和保护的意义和方法; 三是介绍当前尔苏语研究的国际前沿; 四是介绍尔苏语 拼音转写系统的建立以及标准音点的选择; 五是尔苏语拼音转写系统的具体内容。

Ersu is a little-studied, endangered and unwritten Tibeto-Burman language of  Southwest China. This paper introduces a romanization system for the Ersu language, and discusses the system's value from the perspective of language endangerment and conservation. The paper comprises five parts. Part 1 provides background information on the Ersu language, including its distribution, number of speakers, and dialectal variation. Part 2 outlines some major factors in Ersu becoming endangered, and it discusses the significance and methodology of its documentation and preservation. Part 3 summarizes previous research on Ersu. Part 4 outlines the major principles underlying the Ersu Romanization System, and the choice of the standard dialect on which it is based. Part 5 introduces the Ersu Romanization System.

本文通過語法問卷和長篇語料收集到的材料，以甘洛縣則拉鄉爾蘇話為例，對爾蘇語體貌系統的主要表達手段及其之間的關係進行了探討。本文確定了爾蘇語體系統的核心部分（即完整體與非完整體的對立）以詞彙和派生手段（動詞和動詞前綴）構成。本文指出爾蘇語較次要體的類型（如經驗體等）依靠語法形式手段（體貌助詞）表達。本文發現爾蘇語大多數體助詞兼表體與示證的意義。最後，本文分別介紹了體貌系統的主要表達手段和相關語料依據。
This paper provides an overview of the aspectual organization of Ersu (Qiangic, Tibeto-Burman), as spoken in Zela Township in Ganluo County (Sichuan, China). It uses data collected using TMA questionnaires in combination with traditional narratives. In contrast to previous descriptions (Sun 1982, 1983; Liu 1983; Zhang 2013), we argue for a system in which the basic distinction between perfective and imperfective aspect is expressed by lexical-derivational means: verbal stems and directional prefixes. The expression of other types of aspects (such as experiential, change of state, continuous) relies on periphrastic constructions and is tightly interwoven with modality. Through numerous illustrative examples, the paper provides a detailed description of the meaning and use of prefixed and unprefixed verb stems as well as markers of aspect, modality, and evidentiality.