Dialect and Nationalism in China, 1860-1960

Gina Anne Tam challenges the idea that standard, national languages transform peasants into citizens by tracing the history of fangyan languages, which are considered non-standard variants of Mandarin. She highlights how linguists, policy-makers, bureaucrats, and educators framed fangyan as non-standard, while folksong collectors, playwrights, hip-hop artists, and popular protestors argued that fangyan were more authentic and representative of China's national culture and history. These intertwined visions of the Chinese nation shaped the basis for national identity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 275 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Gina Anne Tam challenges the prevailing notion that standard national languages transform peasants into citizens by centering the history of the Chinese nation and national identity on fangyan, which include languages like Shanghainese, Cantonese, and numerous others that are distinct from Mandarin, the official Chinese national language. Tam explores how linguists, policymakers, bureaucrats, and educators categorized fangyan as non-standard variants of Chinese, with symbolic significance subordinate to standard Mandarin. At the same time, she highlights the perspectives of folksong collectors, playwrights, hip-hop artists, and popular protestors who argued that fangyan were more authentic and representative of China's national culture and history.

From the late Qing to the height of the Maoist period, these intertwined visions of the Chinese nation coexisted and influenced each other, ultimately shaping the foundation of national identity. Tam's work sheds light on the complex dynamics between language, culture, and identity, providing a nuanced understanding of the role of fangyan in shaping China's past and present.

Weight: 402g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108745697