Pinyin phonology (was: updated tunu grammar)

"Thomas R. Wier" wrote:

> BTW, is that <i> in <Xi> a high central vowel?
More or less.  The various vowels spelled "i" in pinyin all reflect the
same underlying concept: continue to articulate the preceding consonant,
but add voicing and remove scrape.  Thus the "i" in "shi" is a kind of
retroflex "r", because "sh" is retroflex; "x" is articulated with the
blade of the tongue near the palate, so "xi" has a high central vowel;
"p" is articulated with the tongue at mid position, so "pi" has a mid
vowel.  Etc.

--

John Cowan      http://www.reutershealth.com            jcowan@reutershealth.com
Schlingt dreifach einen Kreis vom dies / Schliess eurer Aug vor heiliger Schau
Den er genoss vom Honig-Tau / Und trank die Milch vom Paradies.
                -- Coleridge (tr. Politzer)