五屯话文字方案探讨

Probe on a Writing System of Wutunhua

在全球性的少数民族语言文字日渐萎缩乃至被"主动遗弃"的今天,仍然考虑为无文字语言创设文字,并非完全不合时宜。设计出简明易学的文字方案,用以培训母语者,使得母语者能够协助专家、甚至自行记录濒危语言材料,仍深具意义,且在实践中也开始取得成效。为母语者更乐于接受起见,文字方案的设计特别需要尊重当地的文化特点和文化认同。五屯话是一种拥有非常复杂接触背景的特殊语言,也是使用人口很少的濒危语言。前人已经有五种不同的符号系统记录五屯话,在此基础上讨论新的"藏文字符标写"方案,其主要目的不在于是否能够为大众常规使用,而在于探索是否有利于濒危语言的抢救性记录。

Nowadays,although most Minority Languages are shrinking and even are abandoned, it is not totally outdated to design a writing system for a language. It is meaningful to design an easy writing system which is easy to learn and to train native speakers. And then these native speakers can assist the experts,even record endangered languages by themselves. Moreover, that is also efficient in practice. Especially,it is necessary to respect the local cultural characteristics and cultural identity when a writing system is designed,so that native speakers are more willing to accept the system. Wutunhua is a special language which has a very complex background of language contact. It is also an endangered language spoken by a small population This paper describes the previous documentation of Wutunhua by five different symbol system,and try to discuss the new writing system originated from Tibetan character. The main purpose is not whether you can expect for the routine use of the general public,but rather to explore whether it is conducive the documentation of endangered languages.