Sinosphere

How are linguistic differences used in social differentiation and social organization processes among the people in the Sinosphere?

Linguistic differences are used in many areas including political and economic practices.  It is important to note that when the linguistic differences are used to create social differences and social organization, the minority population is impacted especially on areas of cultural identity.  For example, Zhou has changed the linguistic landscape by implementing new policies and practices that support the use of Putonghua/Hanyu (official speech) (Beckett H  &  Postiglione, 2013).  Note that minorities are affected in that their rights are ignored and they find challenges in learning literacy education.  Therefore, linguistic differences bring social differentiation in that China uses Putonghua as the national language but all ethnic groups are discriminated against their education and economic rights.  Minority population experience language and identity loss, and social displacement (Beckett & Postiglione, 2013).  A minority language is not included in the education system.  There is evidence that the linguistic differences creates a social difference and social organizations where the Chinese use Hanyu to benefit economically whereas minorities are gradually marginalized.  The minority has been positioned in ethnic autonomous regions where they suffer from poverty due to a lack of economic and educational benefits.  The autonomy law provides language rights to minority population but Zhou's implements new policies and practices that support state rights and ignores individual rights and therefore minority population is denied their language rights (Beckett & Postiglione, 2013).  Even though ethnic minorities have lived in the country for many years, China uses language or linguistic differences to build boundaries and create socio-political environments.

 Language ideology is the basis for nation building simply because the language developed in China and therefore it should be promoted in minority areas (Zhou, 2012).  Zhou believes that the Soviet model promotes relationships between the Chinese language (Hanyu)  and minority language ( lingua franca).  He also use the  Chinese model which states that   Hanyu is the central language though it should  not restrict one from becoming a citizen (Zhou, 2012).  However, the monolingual policy, which is mainstreamed in many areas including education, has brought social differences and social organizations in that ethnic cultures experience challenges in accessing education and expressing their cultural life.  Note that language plays a significant role in promoting survival (Zhou, 2012).  However, minority right to use their language has been violated and this leads to poor academic achievement, anger, among other things that affect their lives.

 

 What other axes of identification (other than language?) affect the social organization in the Sinosphere?

 Other than language, the Sinosphere uses economic and political legitimacy.  Note that    China does not only  use language ideology to create social differences but the Communist Party of China has established political identity and social goals, which have resulted in income disparity,  unequal economic development, high rate of unemployment, environmental pollution, and corruption (Wu, 2008).  This indicates that the Communist Party of China has political authority and has created a new ruling ideology of ‘Xiaokang'.  The political orders has transformed the political system and resulted in a legitimacy crisis.  The crisis occurs because different political systems want to show their legitimacy.  In general, the new ideology that focuses on economic development has given the Communist Party of China a commanding role (Wu, 2008).  Note that people are expected to offer reasoned viewed towards a political order.  However,  China uses top-down rhetoric which means that the new order and social goals are not articulated but rather the  Communist Party of China employs it’s imperative role to justify the political order (Wu, 2008).  In other words, China has a centralized power to regulate the economy and to create regulations and policies.

 

 Response

I agree with these answers regarding the question that linguistic differences create social differentiation and social groups in that China creates a social hierarchy through valuing its language and culture.  For example, Zhou proposed a language ideology that stated that all citizens should use Hanyu/ Putonghua  as the national language.  This means that the minority citizens will be restricted from exercising their rights such as the use of the first language (Beckett & Postiglione, 2013).  It also means that minorities are discriminated and minority students will not succeed academically due to language barriers.  Even though the PRC   supports multilingual education to promote harmony, the over 50 ethnic groups face challenges in accessing multilingual education.  Note that China has the political power to maintain its identity and culture, and the language decisions are influenced by political and social ideology.  Therefore, the ethnic groups continue to experience language boundaries whereas China focuses on power and hierarchy to create social and political stability. I believe that linguistic differences result in social differences where the minority population is alienated and restricting from creating cultural identity.  China becomes the dominant culture since the language favor its ways of life including language, religion, beliefs, and other traditions.  Note that the dominant group that uses the standard language creates a social class where the minority groups are alienated and their linguistic forms are not recognized (Beckett & Postiglione, 2013).

  Language is not the only source of social differences and social groups but also other things such as religion, political elements, ethnic and cultural beliefs belong to the Chinese culture.  These things create misunderstandings and conflict since the minority population is not allowed to express them.  I also believe that the language barrier is the root cause of all other axes of identification in that language barrier creates a border where there is no knowledge sharing and the dominant culture value its social norms and values (Wu, 2008).  Minorities do not access education and economic benefit yet language is the only means where the minority can access education and other benefits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

 Beckett H. G.,  &  Postiglione  G.A. (2013). China’s assimilationist language policy : the impact on

indigenous/minority literacy and social harmony. Routledge.

 

 Wu, D. D. (2008). Discourses of cultural China in the globalizing age. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University

Press.

 

Zhou, M. (2012). Historical review of the PRC’s minority/indigenous language policy and practice:

Nation-state building and identity construction.