Endangered Languages of Southeast China

Southeast China is home to a rich linguistic heritage, but many of its minority languages are at risk of disappearing. These languages are spoken by small ethnic groups across Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and surrounding areas. With the increasing dominance of Mandarin and regional dialects like Cantonese, these unique languages face rapid decline. Below, we explore some of the endangered languages of Southeast China and the communities that speak them. As we see Southeast China’s endangered languages are due to increasing dominance of Mandarin and regional dialects like Cantonese.

1. Shehua (畲话)

Spoken by: The She people, primarily in Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Guangdong.
Language family: Hmong-Mien
Status: Endangered due to widespread Mandarin adoption. Shehua has strong influences from Chinese dialects, but it retains distinct vocabulary and pronunciation.

2. Xianghua (乡话)

Spoken by: Various minority communities in Hunan, Jiangxi, and Guangxi.
Language family: Sinitic (related to Xiang and Gan)
Status: Highly endangered, with most speakers shifting to Mandarin or Cantonese.

3. Lingao (临高话)

Spoken by: People in Lingao County, Hainan.
Language family: Kra-Dai (related to Zhuang and Bouyei)
Status: Declining as younger generations switch to Hainanese and Mandarin.

4. Tsat (Utsat, 回辉话)

Spoken by: The Utsat (Huihui) people, a Cham-descended Muslim community in Hainan.
Language family: Austronesian (related to Cham in Vietnam)
Status: Endangered, with heavy influence from Mandarin and Cantonese.

5. Cun (村语)

Spoken by: A small ethnic group in Hainan.
Language family: Kra-Dai (closely related to Zhuang)
Status: Critically endangered, as most younger speakers have adopted Hainanese or Mandarin.

Conclusion

Southeast China’s endangered languages are disappearing as communities shift to dominant languages. While some groups are working to document and preserve their linguistic heritage, revitalization efforts remain challenging. Raising awareness and encouraging the use of these languages in daily life can help prevent their extinction. Southeast China’s endangered languages are due to increasing dominance of Mandarin and regional dialects like Cantonese.