Tibetan languages face heavy government pressure whilst modernity threatens neglected dialectsTibet
Tibetan languages face heavy government pressure whilst modernity threatens neglected dialectsTibet is known as the ‘Roof of the World’ and it is estimated that up to two dozen distinct languages dwell within its myriad mountain-tops and valley-basins. A new map (shared recently by Tibetan language academic Joseph Roche in time for the UNESCO event) lists a staggering 48 Tibetan languages and dialects within a comparatively thin ‘slice’ of Eastern Tibet alone.Like languages the world over, Tibetan tongues face the challenges of increased urbanisation, the spread and influence of mono-cultural mass media and fewer native speakers to pass on the skills. However powerful these challenges may seem, the Tibetan language faces an even more deadly foe: Chinese government policy. -- source link
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