Introduction

The transformation of Tibet's language ecology in the twenty-first century

Bibliographic Data

ID5111847
AuthorsGerald Roche (0000-0002-2410-351X, The University of Melbourne, corresponding author)
Year2017
Volume2017
Issue245
Pages1-35
Publication date2017-01-24
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of the Sociology of Language (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0165-2516 • E-ISSN: 1613-3668
PublisherWalter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1515/ijsl-2017-0001
OpenAlexW2617583038
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited57

Tibet's linguistic diversity is undergoing drastic transformations in the twenty-first century. In this article, I begin my examination of this issue by outlining the extent of Tibet's linguistic diversity, including not only its numerous Tibetic languages, but also its non-Tibetic minority languages. Using a "language ecology" approach, I examine the mechanisms that have produced and maintained this diversity, as well as the ways this diversity was spatially and socially patterned. I argue that these processes and patterns were largely maintained up until the twenty-first century, when the Chinese state's program to "Open the West" unleashed an ideologically driven modernization program on Tibet, radically altering its language ecology. I argue that the present trends emerging from this process are likely to continue throughout the twenty-first century, resulting in both language loss and the emergence of new languages, leaving the overall language ecology fundamentally altered by the beginning of the twenty-second century. It is hoped that this article will not only provide a useful framework for future discussions on linguistic diversity in Tibet, but will also focus attention on the challenges facing individual languages in Tibet today

Biology · Diversity (politics · Ideology · Linguistic diversity · Linguistics · Modernization theory · Political science · Politics · Process (computing · Sociology · Anthropology · China's Ethnic Minorities and Relations · Chinese history and philosophy · Computer Science · Hong Kong and Taiwan Politics · Law · Philosophy · Ecology