The language spoken by the
Li ethnic group in the southernmost Chinese province of Hainan
is under threat due to the prevalence of Putonghua, the official
Chinese language, experts have warned.
No more than half of the 1 million Li people in Hainan can speak
the authentic Li language or dialect according to experts from the
Hainan Provincial Committee of China Association for Promoting
Democracy. The committee is composed of intellectuals working in
the fields of culture, education, publishing and science.
Li dialect, a language only found in the island province, is the
most unique language in the Zhuang-Dong branch of the
Chinese-Tibetan language family. The latest studies show that it
has a close relationship with the languages of Malay in Malaysia,
Tagalog in the Philippines and Gaoshan dialect spoken in China's
island province Taiwan.
Research into the dialect will assist with the study of the
immigration history of Hainan people and their relationship with
other ethnic groups in Southeast Asian nations, experts say.
Experts with the committee have suggested linguists should fully
study the Li language by recording existing folk tales and songs of
the people. They also advised the local government to set up a
special task force and allocate special funds to preserve the
endangered Li dialect.
The Li people, together with the Zhuang, Bouyei, Dong and Dai
ethnic groups, can trace their origins back to the ancient 'Yue' --
a people who inhabited the areas which are now south China's Guangdong
Province and Guangxi
Zhuang Autonomous Region.
The Yue people moved to the Hainan Island and became the Li
ethnic group. However, the Li people's language is different from
that spoken by other descendants of the Yue who live in other parts
of the country. A written form for the Li language was worked out
in 1957.
The Li people are mainly work in farming but are also they also
produce handicrafts, are involved in farming and commerce. They
live in the scenic sub-tropical zone which is ideal for growing
crops. Marine products also are abundant in the area.
The women are highly skilled in weaving and embroidery. They
make beautiful scarves, bedclothes and other products decorated
with brightly colored patterns of birds, animals, flowers and
figures. The exquisite Li brocade is much sought after.?
Singing is also part of their lives. Men and women, both old and
young, seem to be able to compose and sing songs in a wholly
impromptu fashion. The Li folk songs are melodious and expressive.
Their musical instruments include mouth harps, nose flutes and
multi-piped flutes.
(China Daily March 14, 2006)
