Northwest China: Everyday Phrases in Endangered Languages

Northwest China is home to several endangered languages spoken by small ethnic communities. These languages are at risk due to modernization, migration, and the dominance of Mandarin Chinese. Preserving them is crucial to maintaining the cultural diversity of the region. Below are five common sentences translated into these endangered languages, including pronunciation and English meaning. By learning and using these phrases, we help keep these languages alive.

Salar (Oghuz Turkic language, ~100,000 speakers)

1. Hello, good morning! – “Salam, erteng yaxshi!” (Sah-lahm, er-teng yah-shi)
2. I am hungry. – “Men aç haldayım.” (Men ach hal-da-yum)
3. Have a good night. – “Gijäňiz rahat bolsun!” (Gih-jah-niz ra-hat bol-sun)
4. Where are you from? – “Siz nireden geläňiz?” (Siz nee-re-den ge-leh-niz?)
5. Thank you! – “Rähmet!” (Rah-met!)

Bonan (Mongolic language, ~8,000 speakers)

1. Hello, good morning! – “Sain üde!” (Sain oo-de)
2. I am hungry. – “Bi idekh khüslentei baina.” (Bee ee-deh khüs-len-te ba-e-na)
3. Have a good night. – “Sain šönö öngör!” (Sain shuh-nuh un-gur!)
4. Where are you from? – “Ta khaan-aas gar-dag ve?” (Tah khaan-aas gar-dag veh?)
5. Thank you! – “Bayarlalaa!” (Ba-yar-la-laa!)

Dongxiang (Mongolic language, ~200,000 speakers)

1. Hello, good morning! – “Sain üde!” (Sain oo-de)
2. I am hungry. – “Bi uul bääd.” (Bee ool bed)
3. Have a good night. – “Sain šönö bol!” (Sain shuh-nuh bol!)
4. Where are you from? – “Si xai su de?” (See khai soo de?)
5. Thank you! – “Xaxama!” (Kha-kha-ma!)

Yughur (Western Yugur) (Mongolic language, ~4,000 speakers)

1. Hello, good morning! – “Sain ödür!” (Sain uh-dur)
2. I am hungry. – “Min yebke khushum.” (Min yeb-ke khu-shum)
3. Have a good night. – “Sain shönö!” (Sain shuh-nuh!)
4. Where are you from? – “Tani khaana-aani hun be?” (Ta-nee kha-na aani hoon beh?)
5. Thank you! – “Bayarta!” (Ba-yar-ta!)

Eastern Yugur (Turkic language, ~2,000 speakers)

1. Hello, good morning! – “Salam!” (Sa-lam)
2. I am hungry. – “Men aç bolum.” (Men ach bo-lum)
3. Have a good night. – “Jaksı tüni!” (Jak-suh tuh-nee!)
4. Where are you from? – “Siz neredensiz?” (Siz ne-re-den-siz?)
5. Thank you! – “Sağ olun!” (Sah o-lun!)

Conclusion

Northwest China is linguistically diverse, but many of its languages are in danger. Salar, Bonan, Dongxiang, Yughur, and Eastern Yugur are spoken by unique ethnic groups with rich histories. However, these languages face threats from the expansion of Mandarin and social changes. Learning even a few words helps keep them alive. By preserving and using these endangered languages, we contribute to cultural diversity and heritage conservation.