Minority Languages of the Chinese Tibetosphere

Contemporary Situation and Future Prospects

Gerald Roche

Hugo Valentin Centre, Uppsala University

gerald.roche@ymail.com

@GJosephRoche, #uuTibet

What is the Chinese Tibetosphere?

Tibetosphere: China, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma

Chinese Tibetosphere:1. Tibetan administrative areas: 1 region, 9 prefectures, 2

counties.2. Areas where Tibetans live: e.g., Haidong Municipality

(prev. prefecture), Pingwu County, Mianning County3. Areas with strong historical connections with Tibetans:

e.g., Gongshan County

What are the Minority Languages of the Chinese Tibetosphere?

The non-Tibetic languages spoken in this region.

9

30 (14)

48 (25)

How Many?

50-60

Mangghuer Eastern Yugur Xumi* Laze Bawang-Jiaju* Zbu*

MongghulWestern

YugurMuya* Naxi

Shangzhai/ Stodsde*

Idu Mishmi

Dorké Wutun Guiqiong* Pumi north*NyarongMinyag*

Digaro Mishmi

Salar Kazakh Queyu* Pumi south Khroskyabs* Miju*

Kangjia Duoxu* Drung nDrapa* Situ* Dakpa

Henan Oirat Ersu* Namuyi*Heishui/ Khro chu(Mawo)*

Japhug* Tshangla

Kalmyk Oirat (Haixi)

Lizu* Daohua* Stau*South-central

Rgyalrong*Bogar

Khalkha Mongol

Baima* Na Geshitsa* Tshobdun* Puroik

Amdo

Kham

U-Tsang

25% (0)

60% (24)

15% (1)

Turkic, Mongolic

Various TBQiangic

The Fate of the Minority Languages of the Chinese

Tibetosphere1. Intergenerational Language Transmission2. Absolute Number of Speakers3. Proportion of Speakers within Total Population4. Trends in Existing Domains5. Response to New Domains6. Materials for Education and Literacy7. Governmental and Institution Language Attitudes and

Policies Including Official Status and Use1. Social attitudes

8. Community Members’ Attitudes towards their own Language

9. Amount and Quality of Documentation

1. Intergenerational Transmission

General trend: from diglossia to unequal bilingualism

Severely endangered (1). The language is spoken only by grandparents and older generations.

Stable yet threatened (5-). The language is spoken in most contexts by all generations with unbroken intergenerational transmission, yet multilingualism in the native language and one or more dominant language(s) has usurped certain important communication contexts.

2. Absolute Numbers

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

0-10k 10-20k 20-30k 30-40k 40-50k 50-60k 60-70k 70-80k 80-90k 100k+

0

1

2

3

0-1k 1-2k 2-3k 3-4k 4-5k 5-6k 6-7k 7-8k 8-9k 9-10k

Duoxu (Tosu): 9

Mangghuer: 8,000 – 30,000

Dorké: ~2,000 - ~4,000

3. Relative Numbers

Critically endangered (1). Very few speak the language.

Severely endangered (2). A minority speak the language.

4. Existing Domains

Multilingual parity (4). Two or more language may be used in most social domains and for most functions.

Highly limited domain (1). The language is used only in very restricted domains and for a very few occasions.

5. New Domains

Minimal (1). The language is used only in a few new domains.

Inactive (0). The language is not used in any new domains.

6. Literacy and Education

(1-). Orthography exists but is not generally known.

(0). No orthography available to the community.

7. Government and Institutional Language Attitudes and Policies I

(Strong) passive assimilation (3-). Policies to support the language exist but are not enforced.

Forced assimilation. (1). The dominant language is the sole official language, while non-dominant languages are neither recognized nor protected.

7. Government and Institutional Language Attitudes and Policies II

Active assimilation (2). Assimilation to the dominant language is encouraged. There is no protection for minority languages.

Forced assimilation (1). The dominant language is the sole official language, while non-dominant languages are neither recognized nor protected.

Prohibition (0). Minority languages are prohibited.

8. Community Attitudes

(3). Many members support language maintenance; others are indifferent or even support language loss.

(1). Only a few members support language maintenance;others are indifferent or even support language loss.

9. Documentation

Fair (3). There may be adequate grammar or sufficient amount of grammars, dictionaries, texts, literature, but not everyday media; audio and video recordings may exist in varying quality or degree of annotation.

Undocumented (0). No material exists.

Overall Vitality