当代埃及科普特人的语言问题研究

Coptic Language Issues in Modern Egypt

科普特问题是当代埃及社会不可回避的敏感因素。长期以来,研究者多倾向于探讨与之相关的政治问题、族群冲突和社会事件等。而诸如科普特人的习俗、艺术和语言等文化议题通常不在研究科普特问题的主要框架中。近年来,一些学者意识到语言文化因素对加强当代科普特人族群认同的重要性,并反映在他们的研究成果之中。本文将这类研究中具有代表性的成果进行梳理,兼议语言研究之于科普特问题的意义;通过对科普特语在其族群内部使用情况的考察,厘清当代科普特人语言问题所涉及的不同范畴;回顾始于19世纪的复兴科普特语运动及其影响,结合当代在线论坛中科普特人有关复兴语言的提议,体现当代科普特人语言问题的研究价值所在。

As one of the unavoidable sensitive factors in contemporary Egypt,the Coptic issue has long been explored from perspectives of political discourse,ethnic conflicts or social influence,while cultural aspects such as Coptic tradition,art and language are easily overlooked within the framework of studying Coptic issues.However,some scholars suggested in their recent studies an increasingly important role of language and culture in strengthening contemporary Coptic identity.This paper gives a brief overview of the representative achievements in accordance with this opinion,and highlights the significance of language to the discussion of Coptic issues.By investigating the use of Coptic language within their ethnic group,this paper clarifies the different categories concerning Coptic language issues in modern Egypt.Furthermore,the paper reviews a 19th century movement calling for the revival of Coptic language,with regard to its influence on present-day proposals of a similar language revival from online Coptic forums,in order to draw attention to the contemporary Coptic language issues.