Tibet is one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world. This is in danger of extinction
theconversation.com
There are some 60 languages spoken on the Tibetan Plateau. But harsh Chinese policies mean many minority languages may not be passed down to future generations.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/30223092

Tibetans have worked to protect the Tibetan language and resisted efforts to enforce Mandarin Chinese. Yet, Tibetan children are losing their language through enrolment in state boarding schools where they are being educated nearly exclusively in Mandarin Chinese. Tibetan is typically only taught a few times a week – not enough to sustain the language.

[…]

[Beijing’s] Government policy forces all Tibetans to learn and use Mandarin Chinese. Those who speak only Tibetan have a harder time finding work and are faced with discrimination and even violence from the dominant Han ethnic group.

[…]

Meanwhile, support for Tibetan language education has slowly been whittled away: the government even recently banned students from having private Tibetan lessons or tutors on their school holidays.

Linguistic minorities in Tibet all need to learn and use Mandarin. But many also need to learn Tibetan to communicate with other Tibetans: classmates, teachers, doctors, bureaucrats or bosses.

[…]

The government refuses to provide any opportunities to use and learn minority languages like Manegacha. It also tolerates constant discrimination and violence against Manegacha speakers by other Tibetans.

These [Chinese] assimilationist state policies are causing linguistic diversity across Tibet to collapse. As these minority languages are lost, people’s mental and physical health suffers and their social connections and communal identities are destroyed.

[…]

  • boredtortoise@lemm.eeEnglish
    52·
    3 days ago

    I haven’t voted for your comment. I’m just wondering how a police state dystopia is THE favourite. As you said, considering a multitude of pros and cons, isn’t there anything else?

    • 🦇SalviaDivination🦇@lemmy.worldEnglish
      32·
      3 days ago

      Would you ever believe it if it wasn’t a police state dystopia? I wouldn’t feel this way if I believed it was. Have you gone out of your way to do extensive research on the politics, history and quality of life in China over the course of months or years and looked for multiple sources from multiple parts of the world? Or have you just read/watched the news and had history class? Maybe found a book in a library one time? You don’t need to question whether I love dystopias. Do question if I know or at least think I know what you know.

      • Semjaza@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
        1·
        2 days ago

        Can it be a police state dystopia if the people self censor to stay out of trouble, corruption, and racism run rampant?

        That said, the PRC is a complicated place and the standard of living and health conditions of pretty much everyone have gone from mostly poor to generally good over a single generation. I think it’s fair, yet sad, to say that wouldn’t have happened any other way.

        The public transport is amazing. And if you’re willing to conform, and be Han or a model minority in a traditionally Han dominant area, you’re living well. Purchasing power is generally high, and even the vast vast majority of the poorest people have houses and food.

        Source: speak Mandarin and worked in China for a few years.

        • 🦇SalviaDivination🦇@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          1 day ago

          I’m so jealous you were there and can speak the language! I’m having a hard time. :')

          I heard that the re-education camps are actually high quality spaces with classes that explain Chinese culture in a positive way, should they want to fit in but people can practice their own customs too. they just want them to adopt something, anything. I’m trying to word that carefully. I can’t remember the name of my source right now, I’d have to check later. So yeah but if you put it that way, it doesn’t sound so bad. You can judge it but it’s not harmful if that’s the case. Regardless, I’m skeptical because of how convincing certain other sources are too. Yeah it sucks how racist the country can be.

          • Semjaza@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
            2·
            23 hours ago

            I’ve not seen inside one, so I can’t say. From the outside they do look a lot like prisons though.

            But the word 学校 (school) is essentially a swear word in Xinjiang now and has an impact on the atmosphere. It irks me that pretty much all coverage and reporting is done for US benefits and as a stick to beat China with. Not actually out of care or respect for the ethnic groups going into them.

            China isn’t a big, irrational, evil. It’s a big place led by people making decisions. You won’t find any nation-state, let alone a large powerful one acting in a moral way.

            I hope you can find a chance to visit it for a time. It’s a cliche, but English teaching is an easy route to take to get in and have a chance to see China for yourself.

      • boredtortoise@lemm.eeEnglish
        21·
        3 days ago

        It’s not about the messenger, you are not attacked and don’t need to react as such.

        My comment was that wouldn’t there be other options if one considers “extensive research on politics, history and quality of life”, multiple sources etc. anywhere.

        • 🦇SalviaDivination🦇@lemmy.worldEnglish
          3·
          2 days ago

          Actually no, as far as I’m aware of. I’m really into global econ stats and none come close to China, it’s really remarkable.That’s what caused me to research it more. Sorry if my comment sounded butthurt.

          • boredtortoise@lemm.eeEnglish
            31·
            2 days ago

            No worries. I’m just curious. There has definitely been advancements. And then the various rankings and indexes on happiness, equality, freedom, health, other qualities paint a different picture. Of course one could ponder if some of them are biased, and still, maybe an aggregate of all could provide value…