We are pleased to announce the publication of a new paper by Zhihao Wang and Youngah Do in the Journal of Chinese Linguistics. The paper, titled “Tonal Assignment of Chinese Lettered Words,” explores the complex patterns of tonal assignment in Chinese lettered words, particularly in Beijing Mandarin.

The study reveals that Chinese lettered words display a clear stress-to-tone match pattern, with additional rules of phonetic contrast maximization and a default rule also playing a role in tonal assignment. The findings suggest that the complex patterns previously reported in studies of ordinary Chinese loanwords are influenced by external factors related to the Chinese writing system.

This research provides valuable insights into the inherent strategies of tonal assignment in the Chinese language and contributes to our understanding of the phonological adaptation of loanwords.

Wang, Z., & Do, Y. (2025). Tonal assignment of Chinese lettered words [Preprint]. Journal of Chinese Linguistics. open_in_newDOI