The Decline of Chinese Dialects and Strategies for their Preservation

Li Rulong

Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning ›› 2017, Vol. 2 ›› Issue (4) : 25-31.

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Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning ›› 2017, Vol. 2 ›› Issue (4) : 25-31.

The Decline of Chinese Dialects and Strategies for their Preservation

  • Li Rulong
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Abstract

This article inquires into the decline of Chinese dialects in the context of promulgation of Putonghua, and proposes some strategies to preserve the dialects. Two remarkable tendencies can be observed in the declining Chinese dialects: the erosion of dialectal idiosyncracies and attenuation of communicative functions. On the one hand, many dialects are dropping their distinctive phonological, lexical and syntactic features, and assimilating into the Mandarin system. On the other hand, the use of dialects in communication is diminishing even for dialect speakers. It is found that the declining patterns vary among different regional dialects. Those dialects along the Yangtze, such as the Wu, Xiang and Gan dialects show more shifts in structure, while those farther away from the Yangtze, such as the Min, Yue and Gan dialects, feature more decline in functional use. In order to save the dialects from further declining, this paper proposes that the values of Chinese dialects need to be appreciated, and the dialects can be incorporated into the Chinese language teaching materials across the nation. In addition, the mass media, social and cultural sectors as well as families can play their distinctive roles in the preservation and transmission of dialects.

Key words

dialect / variation / decline / strategies

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Li Rulong. The Decline of Chinese Dialects and Strategies for their Preservation[J]. Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning. 2017, 2(4): 25-31

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