The Spread of Northern Influence
Putonghua What is it?
Putonghua What is it? The standard Chinese language, based on Beijing Mandarin dialect. What was major obstacle to spread when gov’t decreed its use in 1956?
Putonghua What is it? The standard Chinese language, based on Beijing Mandarin dialect. What was major obstacle to spread when gov’t decreed its use in 1956? Lack of teachers. How is it introduced?
Putonghua What is it? The standard Chinese language, based on Beijing Mandarin dialect. What was major obstacle to spread when gov’t decreed its use in 1956? Lack of teachers. How is it introduced? 1st grade begins in local dialect and transition to Putonghua by end of year.
Putonghua, cont’d. What is Putonghua used for in S. China?
Putonghua, cont’d. What is Putonghua used for in S. China? It is the language of the government and is the official language of the public arena. Will the local dialects die out?
Putonghua, cont’d. What is Putonghua used for in S. China? It is the language of the government and is the official language of the public arena. Will the local dialects die out? No, local dialects are used for everything but official transactions, and school children often lose the ability to speak Putonghua after graduation.
Historical perspective Putonghua is the most recent development of an ancient trend. For over two millenia, linguistic influence has spread from North to South. Spread of Putonghua is enhanced by modern technology.
Han vs. Man Who are the Han?
Han vs. Man Who are the Han? The ethnic Chinese whose influence has consistently spread from the North Who are the Man?
Han vs. Man Who are the Han? The ethnic Chinese whose influence has consistently spread from the North Who are the Man? This is a collective term for many ethnic groups inhabiting SE China, thought to be wild, exotic “barbarians”. Some enclaves still exist.
Gradual Integration of South into China 3rd century BCE - First Chinese settlers, some mandated to settle by gov’t (Qin dynasty)
Gradual Integration of South into China 610 CE - Canal building project brings growth to Yangtze
Gradual Integration of South into China 8th - 11th centuries - Middle Yangtze was populated, until all areas were Chinese except Sichuan (SW) and upper Yangtze (depopulated by plague 16th - 19th centuries - Large migrations into Sichuan from North
Chinese vs. American frontiering China: Process took over 1000 years Benign gradual absorption Language transference (=substratum influence) was substantial America: Process took less than 1 century Little assimilation and much death Virtually no language transference - language destruction instead
Why do you think this is so? Colloquial words from dialects often cannot be written with Chinese characters.