Systematic Documentation and Annotation of Dialect-based Local Heritages: A Review of the Series of Chinese Dialect-based Local Custom with Illustrations (Series 1)
Abstract：In the first part of this review, my reflection focuses on the unique value of dialects in reviving indigenous knowledge and local cultures in the new era. Over the last two decades, radical changes in media and forms of communication for human, material and information have brought a destructible effect on the distinct features of local customs and cultures at an increasing speed. Fortunately, words and expressions encoding regional cultural heritages are still preserved relatively well in the memories of those speakers of 65 years and over. I argue that the main value of the Series of Chinese Dialect-based Local Custom with Illustrations (Series 1) lies in creative thinking in a timely-revitalization endeavor, that is, reviving local heritages through documenting dialectal glossary. The effective combination of the preservation of local dialects and cultural heritage provides a good pilot for the National Project of Chinese Language Resource Preservation. In the second part, I review the layout and formats of the Series in a detailed manner. The Series contains ten volumes of different dialects, covering all major aspects of local customs and indigenous knowledge in ten communities, including Beijing. The volumes demonstrate the unique local cultures of the ten selected locations in a very authentic way through a standardized format: an entry with local pronunciation, in-depth culturally loaded explanation, and detailed illustrations. The last part of the review is devoted to volume-by-volume introductions and specific case reviews of these ten volumes.
王洪君. 抢救方言与抢救地方风俗文化——《中国方言民俗图典系列》（第一辑）读后[J]. 语言战略研究, 2019, 4(3): 88-96.
Wang Hongjun. Systematic Documentation and Annotation of Dialect-based Local Heritages: A Review of the Series of Chinese Dialect-based Local Custom with Illustrations (Series 1). , 2019, 4(3): 88-96.
