Endangered Languages of Western Tibet

Western Tibet, known for its vast plateaus and ancient monasteries, is home to a few endangered languages that are struggling to survive. With harsh living conditions and low population density, many small language communities face extinction as younger generations shift to Tibetan and Mandarin.

1. Derung (Dulong)

• Speakers: Around 4,000, mostly in Tibet’s border regions and Yunnan.
• Status: Critically endangered—younger speakers are shifting to Mandarin.
• Region: Found in the remote border areas of Ngari Prefecture in Tibet and parts of Yunnan.
• Threats:
  • Extremely isolated communities.
  • Lack of schools teaching Derung.
  • Government policies promoting Mandarin.
• Preservation Efforts:
  • Local community efforts to record oral traditions.
  • Documentation projects by Chinese linguists.
• Sample Words:
  • “nɑ˩mi˧” – ‘sun’
  • “ŋo˩de˧” – ‘moon’
  • “da˩” – ‘water’

2. Dongxiang (Santa)

• Speakers: Estimated 200,000 total, but only a few thousand in Tibet.
• Status: Severely endangered in Tibet, though more stable in Gansu.
• Region: Small speaker communities live near Ngari Prefecture and parts of Qinghai.
• Threats:
  • Intermarriage with Tibetan-speaking communities.
  • Shift to Tibetan and Mandarin for education and business.
• Preservation Efforts:
  • Some research in Gansu but little in Tibet.
• Sample Words:
  • “sün” – ‘sun’
  • “ay” – ‘mother’
  • “öğü” – ‘water’

3. Baima

• Speakers: Around 10,000, primarily in Sichuan and Gansu, with some in Tibet.
• Status: Endangered—often debated whether it is a Tibetan dialect or a separate language.
• Region: Small groups found in Ngari and western Amdo regions.
• Threats:
  • Loss of native speakers due to bilingualism.
  • Increasing migration to Tibetan-speaking areas.
• Preservation Efforts:
  • Linguists from China have studied Baima, but no formal revitalization programs exist.
• Sample Words:
  • “ʃo˥” – ‘sun’
  • “ama” – ‘mother’
  • “ɦʊ” – ‘water’

Conclusion

Western Tibet’s harsh geography and low population density make language preservation difficult. Many of these endangered languages face extinction within a few generations unless documentation and revitalization efforts increase. Without intervention, these unique linguistic heritages could be lost forever.