Heilongjiang Manchu Analysis Of Endangered Process

Since 1900's, endangered language has been a high research point in linguistics field. As an endangered language, Manchu has got more and more attention. Manchu is the only language with words in Man-Tungusic group of Altai language family, which had been set as official language in Qing Dynasty. Because of its representatives among north minority languages, the analysis and research on the endangering course of Manchu will make contribution to studies on the other minority languages.Manchu had undergone a course from birth, development, prosperous to gradually decline and finally to death. From the view of time, the usage and development of Manchu language and words reached its top in mid-times of Qianlong. since that, the usage of Manchu began to go down bit by bit. and Manchu were not used as communicative language in the end of Qing Dynasty. From the view of geography, the northeast area, where Manchu ethnic originated, was the major place where Manchu was widely used, and was also a place where Manchu was reserved the longest, among which Heilongjiang was the best. Especially after 1960's, Heilongjiang has become the only province where Manchu is still alive. Even though, the present state of Manchu in this area is far less than that of past, to great degree, it is just a cultural relic but not a communicative tool. Thus the studies on the transition passage of Manchu usage in Heilongjiang will make it clear that the final endangering course of Manchu. Some Manchu villages of Heihe Area and Sanjiazhi Village of Fuyu County of Qiqihar Area can be selected as representative place which can reflect the transition of Manchu usage in Heilongjiang.The decline course of Manchu in Heilongjiang can be devided into threephases:The first is before the 1960's. During this period. Manchu was reserved comparatively well in such place as Dawujiazhi, Xiamachang of Heihe City. Sijitun of Sunwu County, and Sanjiazhi of Fuyu Count, whereas Manchu had disappeared in other places of Heilongjiang.The second is from the mid-1960's to mid and later 1980's, when Manchu was in the slow decline course.The third is from the end of the 1980's till to the beginning of the 21st century, when Manchu was in the fast decline course.Through analysis based on the relative materials some main causes leading to Manchu tending to death can be concluded as follows: language policy, natural geography, social economy and culture, population migration and so on. These factors work together and lead to the final decline of Manchu in Heilongjiang.