言语社区视角下的语言活力:以澳门土生葡语为例

Language Vitality in the Perspective of Speech Community: The Case of Patuá

针对语言活力的理论化程度不够的问题,文章结合社会语言学的"言语社区理论"探讨语言活力的社区特性。文章首先考察7个语言活力评估体系,发现这些体系已经在不同程度上考虑了语言的社区性,为发展言语社区视角的语言活力理论提供了启示。语言活力研究采用言语社区视角,一方面可以发现语言活力变化的原因,另一方面可为濒危语言的保护和复兴打开新的思路。文章以澳门土生葡语~①为例,分析其产生、扩散和衰落的原因,发现言语社区结构的改变是澳门土生葡语走向消亡的原因。文章最后为土生葡语的保护提供建议:可以联合海外土生葡人社区开展言语社区建设,因为这些社区的内外条件都比澳门更利于该语言的维持和传承。

In view of the insufficient theorization of language vitality,this paper explores the community features of language vitality by using the "speech community theory" of sociolinguistics.This paper first examines seven assessment methods of language vitality and finds that these methods have considered the nature of community to varying degrees,which can help develop the theory of language vitality from the perspective of speech community.On the one hand,the studies of language vitality from the community perspective can identify the causes of changes in language vitality,and on the other hand,it can broaden the scope for the protection and revival of endangered languages.Taking the Patuá of Macao as an example,this paper analyzes the causes of its emergence,spread and decline,and finds that the change of its speech community structure is the cause for its death.This paper finally proposes some suggestions for the protection of Patuá.The development of speech communities of Patuá should be in conjunction with overseas communities of Macao-born Portuguese.Because the internal and external conditions of these communities are much better for the maintenance and inheritance of Patuá than the Macao community.