Yin Zhiping
Over the past two decades, research on language life, conducted primarily in China, has yielded substantial achievements. However, the theoretical underpinnings for studying language life remain relatively underdeveloped. Drawing on the accumulated scholarship and research practice, this article aims to summarize existing research findings and practices, outline the disciplinary profile of language life as well as to clarify the connotation and characteristics of language life research, and establish a coherent theoretical framework for the study of language life. Based on discussions of the unique attributes of language life, we define language life as “social life formed through the interaction between language and society”, marked by its agentivity, practical embeddedness, and interdisciplinarity. According to the interaction between linguistic functions and social factors in language use and activities, a categorical system of language life is proposed in the form of twelve analytic dimensions, delineated by the varying patterns through which linguistic functions and social factors co-constitute language use and language-related activities. From the perspective of spatial relations, the structure of language life is further described as comprising three interrelated levels: inner, middle, and outer, as well as five upper and lower tiers. Based on a comparison of the scope, research objects, and research objectives between language life research, sociolinguistics, and applied linguistics, this paper proposes the establishment of language life studies as a subfield within sociolinguistics. Language life studies is not only theoretically innovative, but it also demonstrates strong practical significance, maintaining both overlap and divergence with sociolinguistics. Language life studies represents a successful effort by Chinese scholars to construct an independent knowledge system in linguistics, contributing significantly to expanding the domain of linguistic inquiry and articulating a people-centered epistemology. Language life studies also carries strong practical significance, informing national strategic planning and serving broader social development. As such, it represents a noteworthy Chinese attempt to build an autonomous knowledge system in linguistics and contributes to strengthening China’s scholarly voice in international academic discourse.