A Review of the Twenty-Year Study of Language Life in China

Li Yuming

Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning ›› 2025, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (1) : 12-25.

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Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning ›› 2025, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (1) : 12-25. DOI: 10.19689/j.cnki.cn10-1361/h.20250101

A Review of the Twenty-Year Study of Language Life in China

  • Li Yuming
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Abstract

While the term “language life” has been used in China for at least 70 years, its recognition and thorough development as a fundamental concept in language planning has primarily emerged over the past two decades. During this period, the studies on language life have yielded substantial results and effectively advanced the development of language life in China. The achievements manifest in four key dimensions: Firstly, the concept “language life” has been redefined and more in-depth researches are done to gain a thorough understanding of the language situations both in China or globally. Secondly, focused research and practical implementations have been conducted across various domains, including monitoring language life and public opinion, establishing and maintaining linguistic standards, language poverty alleviation and rural revitalization initiative, language services and emergency language services, development of language economy and language industry, etc. Thirdly, the field has developed institutional infrastructure through the establishment of research institutions, annual reports in series, journal networks and a group of degree awarding units of linguistics, and a variety of measures have been explored for talent cultivation. Fourthly, six major theoretical principles have been proposed: namely building a harmonious language life, realizing barrier-free social communication, comprehensively carrying out language services, promoting language capacity, protecting and developing language resources, and exploring and carrying forward the Chinese language civilization. The field has embraced a research paradigm of “originating in and returning to language life”. This has led to the establishment of distinctive academic and discourse systems in Chinese language life research, which have generated significant scholarly impact internationally.

Key words

language life / language planning / academic idea and concept / research paradigm / twenty-year review

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Li Yuming. A Review of the Twenty-Year Study of Language Life in China[J]. Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning. 2025, 10(1): 12-25 https://doi.org/10.19689/j.cnki.cn10-1361/h.20250101

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