Tendency For The Wutai Dialect To Approach Mandarin-In Terms Of The Vocabulary Change

This thesis is a sociolinguistic analysis of the changing condition of the Wutai Dialect. That is, the tendency of the Wutai dialect's approach to mandarin. The study focuses on vocabulary change in the Wutai Dialect and the reasons for the change, because vocabulary is the most active part of the key elements of a language. Through the investigation of vocabulary change of the Wutai dialect, we can have a clearer understanding of language changing conditions. The research mainly belongs to a qualitative study based on data collected from daily conversation and the records of dialects. The conceptual framework is constructed on the basis of macro-sociolinguistics and sociolinguistics in general. This investigation concentrates on vocabulary change, language policy and the reasons for such changes.The theoretical framework of the present study is based on macro-sociolinguistic theories. Language planning, language change, language contact and language maintenance are the major four aspects of macro-sociolinguistics. The present study mainly focuses on language change. However, language change is extremely complicated. So it mainly concentrates on the study of the consequences of change. This is because "following the example of two of the founders of the modern discipline, Saussure (1959) and Bloomfield (1933), most linguists have maintained the change itself cannot be observed; all that we can possibly hope to observe are the consequences of change" (Wardhaugh, 2000: 188). Furthermore, the present study of language change is restricted to vocabulary.At present, China is developing quickly and stably in a calm social environment. People are, for the most part, living a happy and peaceful life. In order to adapt to the development of society and economy, people are required to communicate with each other to a large extent and on a large scale, so the language they use is required to be standardized. As a kind of dialect, in order to adapt to this trend, the Wutai dialect is approaching mandarin. This tendency is clearly reflected in the vocabulary change. The author investigated the vocabulary used by three different generations in the same family, as well as sampling other people randomly. Such an investigation reflects some factors that cause vocabulary change, including social factors and personal factors. But another important question is why such a tendency exists. The author analyzed the reasons, including language policy, economic development, personal language attitude and psychology, as well as other various factors.Since the world today depends upon communication and unification, we think that the tendency for Wutai dialect to approach mandarin is a natural direction of vocabulary change. This tendency is unavoidable in today's world. We should see vocabulary change as a normal linguistic phenomenon, find dynamic and systematic research may prove to have both theoretical and practical value in macro-sociolinguistics.