游牧民族的语言与农耕民族的语言

Languages of Nomadic and Agrarian Peoples

游牧民族和农耕民族在社会类型、语言系统和语言发展模式上有显著差异。游牧民族的语言中词汇一般以多音节词为主,音节界限模糊,有元音和谐与重音,词汇中关于畜牧文化的词较丰富,语序符合SOV型语言的典型特征,形态变化丰富,语言发展模式是分化式的。农耕民族的语言一般以单音节词为主,音节界限明确,有声调,词汇充分反映了农耕文化的特色,语序符合SVO型语言的典型特征,形态变化较少,语言发展模式是同化式的。就中国境内的语言来说,北方的阿尔泰语是典型的游牧民族的语言,南方的壮侗语具有农耕语言的典型特征,藏缅语中一部分接近阿尔泰语,汉语、苗瑶语和另一部分藏缅语接近壮侗语,但很多语言现象在地理上呈现出连续变化的状态。游牧民族的社会系统和语言系统总体上处于一种相对封闭和稳定的状态,农耕民族的社会系统和语言系统总体上处于一种相对开放和活跃的状态。语言类型的差异可以从社会类型的差异得到解释。

There are significant differences between nomadic and agrarian peoples regarding social types,language types and language development models.Words in nomadic languages are mostly polysyllable.These languages are characteristic of fuzzy syllabic boundaries,vowel harmony,word stress,abundance of words about animal husbandry,the typical word order of SOV and abundant inflections.Their language development models are typical of divergence.Words in agrarian language are mostly monosyllable.These languages are characteristic of clear syllabic boundaries,syllabic tones,abundance of words about agriculture,the typical word order of SVO and scarcity of inflections.Their language development models are typical of assimilation.In terms of languages within China,Altaic languages are typically nomadic languages.Zhuang-Dong languages are typically agrarian languages.Some of Tibeto-Burman languages are close to Altaic,while Chinese,Miao-Yao and other Tibeto-Burman are close to Zhuang-Dong.But for all these languages,there is a geographical transitional continuum in their linguistic features.The social systems and language systems of nomadic peoples are relatively closed and stable,whereas those of the agrarian peoples are relatively open and vibrant.Differences of language types and language development models can be explained from differences of social systems.