论中国民族语言认同

Ethnic Language Identity in China

语言认同是族群认同的重要属性。语言不同的社会功能可形成不同的语言角色认同,如国家通用语言承担更多的交际工具认同,汉语方言和少数民族语言承担更多的文化载体和社会权利的认同。而且,还存在弱势语言、非主体民族语言、复杂语言环境语言群体的认同意识要强于强势语言、主体民族语言、简单语言环境的语言群体。鉴于国家语言和民族语言认同角色定位的不同,用市场化政策提升国家语言工具认同和用非市场化优惠政策保障民族语言的区域自治权利、非遗文化的载体权利,是实现民族语言—国家语言认同和谐的策略。

Language identity and ethnic identity are interrelated. Language has various functions and thus plays different roles in identity construction. A national common language, for instance, functions as a common tool for communication and may construct a national identity, whereas dialects and ethnic languages can be more useful in constructing a cultural identity and for maintaining social rights. In addition, people who speak dialects or minority languages, and people who live in a multilingual environment, may show stronger language identity awareness than those who only speak the dominant languages, or those who use the languages of the majority population, and those who live in a monolingual environment. In this article, a number of studies are reviewed, including studies in the areas of national common language, regional dialects, and ethnic minority languages, and the related issues such as language rights and cultural functions are discussed and problematized. Given the fact that the national language and ethnic languages have different social functions, for achieving language identity harmony we can improve the national language status with marketoriented policies, and protect the languages rights of the ethnic minority communities with non-market incentives.