Endangered Languages North China

This region includes Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, and central Inner Mongolia. While North China is predominantly Mandarin-speaking, there are pockets of minority languages at risk of disappearing. North China’s endangered languages are primarily from the Mongolic and Tungusic families. Also including Kazakh and local Mandarin varieties.

1. Mongolian (Chakhar, Urat, and Baarin Dialects)

• Classification: Mongolic.
• Speakers: Combined, these dialects have around 300,000 speakers across Inner Mongolia, but each dialect’s numbers are much smaller.
• Status: Vulnerable. Chakhar is relatively stable compared to Baarin, which is critically endangered.
• Preservation Efforts:
  • Mongolian language education is mandatory in some areas of Inner Mongolia.
  • Government initiatives promote Mongolian in cultural festivals, schools, and media, but Mandarin use dominates younger generations.

2. Shè (Tuyuhun)

• Classification: Mongolic, historically spoken by the Tuyuhun people.
• Speakers: Less than 100, mostly elderly speakers in northern Hebei Province.
• Status: Critically endangered. The language has largely been replaced by Mandarin.
• Preservation Efforts:
  • Limited documentation exists, mostly through historical studies.
  • Local universities occasionally collaborate with linguists to preserve oral histories.

3. Jin Dialects (Specific Local Varieties)

• Classification: A major branch of Mandarin (Sinitic family).
• Speakers: Tens of millions overall, but local varieties in Shanxi and Hebei face decline.
• Status: Vulnerable. Standard Mandarin is increasingly replacing local varieties, especially among youth.
• Preservation Efforts:
  • Local governments and scholars publish materials in Jin, but these efforts rarely target highly endangered sub-varieties.

4. Dagur (Daur)

• Classification: Mongolic.
• Speakers: Approximately 9,000 in North China, particularly in Inner Mongolia.
• Status: Endangered. Language shift to Mandarin is prevalent in urban areas.
• Preservation Efforts:
  • Chinese linguists have recorded folk tales and songs.
  • Cultural centers in Inner Mongolia promote Dagur traditions, though language use remains secondary.

5. Manchu (in North China)

• Classification: Tungusic.
• Speakers: Similar to Northeast China, fewer than 20 fluent speakers remain. There are some scattered speakers in Hebei and Beijing.
• Status: Critically endangered.
• Preservation Efforts:
  • Manchu is promoted as part of cultural heritage, with educational resources such as textbooks and online courses.
  • Beijing universities collaborate on projects to digitize historical records.

6. Kazakh (in Inner Mongolia)

• Classification: Turkic.
• Speakers: Around 1,500–2,000 speakers in small pastoral communities.
• Status: Endangered. Speakers often shift to Mandarin or Mongolian for practical reasons.
• Preservation Efforts:
  • Local Kazakh communities in Inner Mongolia maintain oral traditions such as songs and poetry.
  • Kazakhstan’s government has collaborated with Chinese linguists for cross-border language documentation.

7. Oroqen (in North China)

• Classification: Tungusic.
• Speakers: Fewer than 3,000, including populations in Inner Mongolia.
• Status: Critically endangered.
• Preservation Efforts:
  • Oroqen culture is recognized as “intangible cultural heritage,” which has spurred some documentation of folklore.
  • Language-specific revitalization efforts are minimal.

Summary of North China

This region’s endangered languages are primarily from the Mongolic and Tungusic families, with the additional presence of Kazakh and local Mandarin varieties. The main threats include urbanization, migration, and Mandarin’s dominance. Preservation efforts exist but are generally limited in scope.