Overview

These Directed Graph (DG) syllable models for Mandarin are induced automatically from a standard Pinyin table with 399 entries (some characters modified for processing purposes). The syllable list derived directly from the table is used as a reference. (Note that the Pinyin table defines syllables which are associated with characters and occur in the lexicon, not 'potential syllables'; the models follow this principle.)

In the workbench implementations listed below, a depth-first graph transversal algorithm was implemented in order to generate all syllables described by the model.

All models assume that 'vowel-initial' syllables beginn with a glottal stop. Motivations: empirically, in canonical isolated pronunciations a glottal stop is oberved; formally, this assumption also simplifies the description. Note that contracted syllables are not accounted for.

Four Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) Mandarin syllable models

1. DAG model 1 of Pinyin table (grouped initials; non-deterministic; exact model: sound and complete)
2. DAG model 2 of Pinyin table (grouped finals; deterministic; exact model: sound and complete)
3. DAG model 3 with node inserted for onset glides (complete, but model overgeneralises slightly)
4. DAG model 4 with nodes inserted for onset glides and coda nasals (complete, but model overgeneralises slightly; the most complex model)
5. mandarin-syll-demo.html (4.4K)
6. mandarin-syllables-demo.html (4.4K)

Hints*

Please be patient - calculations may take a little time.

And please use only the switch settings in the middle row:

• The Graph switch permits selection of the graph output format.
• The LR/TB switch permits selection of Left-Right vs. Top-Bottom orientation of the graph.
• The Compact switch selects processing of only one of a set of parallel transitions.