Abstract：By using the national and continuous survey data released by relevant Chinese authorities, in combination with existing local research on rural sociolinguistics, a comprehensive assessment of the social situation and language life in rural China can be conducted. The data indicate that, since the Reform and Opening-up, China’s rural society has been undergoing a transformation from traditional to modern structures. In terms of population trend, the proportion of rural population has fallen below that of urban population, and continues to decline, with significant regional disparities. In terms of agricultural development, the proportion of agricultural output and labor force has decreased significantly compared to the secondary and tertiary industries. The rural labor force has increasingly shifted from agriculture to other industries, forming a large group of migrant workers. This shift has contributed to the social differentiation of rural areas and facilitated either the upgrading of traditional agriculture or the emergence of new agricultural models. With respect to rural communities, the population concentration in urban areas has led to frequent reorganization of rural communities. The number of villages and townships has sharply decreased, while the number of towns has grown significantly. Consequently, rural communities are transitioning from natural communities to government-planned communities. This process of modern transformation has had a profound impact on rural language life. Some traditional language phenomena are gradually disappearing. For instance, traditional agricultural vocabulary is being lost, and some Chinese dialects and minority languages are being endangered and require urgent preservation efforts. Simultaneously, new linguistic phenomena are emerging, such as increased bilingualism in ethnic minority communities, while the self-productive evolution of Chinese dialects is weakening, necessitating immediate attention. Additionally, potential language problems are on the horizon, including the need to enhance the language ability of the new generation of farmers, and address the language governance and service requirements stemming from township restructuring. An in-depth investigation into the rapidly changing language life in rural China is not only essential for advancing Chinese sociolinguistics on a global level, but also crucial for supporting China’s rural revitalization.
付义荣. 从统计数据看中国农村语言生活的发展[J]. 语言战略研究, 2024, 9(6): 24-35.
Fu Yirong. The Evolution of Language Life in Rural China: A Statistical Data Perspective. , 2024, 9(6): 24-35.
