Historical Transition Process of Language Policies in China

Languages emerged from peoples’ socio-economic activities and life customs under different geographic and climate conditions.There were communications and competition among the groups when they meet each other with different languages.Four factors have influence on language competition: coercive policies of administrations,influences of economic power,relative size of populations,and attractive appeal of their cultures.This paper reviews the historical process of the language system formation of Chinese nation.The language policies practiced by the different dynasties since the Qin were classified into three groups.The paper discussed these policies in details based on historical records as well as the influence of language policies on political-cultural identity of the Chinese people.Profession Fei Xiaotong suggested a framework of “the pluralistic unity of Chinese nation” in understanding of China’s formation.This paper suggests that such “a pluralistic unity” framework also exists in the Chinese language system,and Han population in the core area of China and Putonghua(“普通话”) has functioned as a cohesion core of this “a pluralistic unity”.