Vowel Quality in Xiang Non-Lexical Hesitation Markers: New Forms of Typological Evidence?

Xiang (hsn) remains a poorly understood grouping within Sinitic, with no satisfactory conclusions on how to demarcate its boundaries or define subgroupings. One general observation is that there rough typological split between the Northeast and Southwest related contact from northern- southern-type Sinitic varieties, respectively, which can be supported phonological, lexical, syntactic evidence. It predicted here an additional source of evidence found in phonetic features hesitation markers (HMs; ‘fillers’, ‘speech disfluencies’, etc.), tend towards central area vowel space (approaching [ə], [ɤ], [e], etc.) but still conform phonologies languages they occur. This study introduces novel three-way division terms phonemic vowels open syllables (either [ə/ɤ], [e/ɛ], both) then evaluated against vocalic quality HMs determine whether used as for internal typology. Data are gathered 47 speakers representing 16 localities, distributed across Hunan province, recorded performing Pear Stories paradigm, 304 extracted. Features reported include (F1-F2), tonal contour (F0), duration (ms). demonstrate four distinct qualities, their distribution does not neatly fit established taxonomic schemes; however, support transitional status varieties site mixture northern southern features.