Cultural heritage as a key motivation for sustainable language protection: a case study of the Suzhou dialect protection project

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study explores the complex dynamic interplay between cultural heritage and language protection in the process of dialect planning in Suzhou city. In the context of social tensions surrounding the decline of local dialects and minority languages in China, the central and local governments have inaugurated projects for protecting language resources. Using Cooper’s accounting scheme, this study contrasts the Chinese Language Resources Protection Project with the local initiative in the Suzhou Dialect Protection Project. It is found that the latter better exemplifies the role of cultural heritage in sustainable language protection. To further interpretate the policy making and practice of dialect protection, this study analyzes underlying motivations along the lines of ‘7i model’ proposed by Ager. In-depth interviews with discrete groups of stakeholders illuminate the pronounced influence of ‘cultural confidence’ in fostering regional language protection, achieved through holistic societal participation. Finally, this article introduces a novel framework for sustainable language resources protection: ‘Policy–Academia–Schooling–Services–Consumption (PASSCo)’, showcased by Suzhou’s efforts in inheriting intangible cultural heritage: Suzhou Pingtan. Confronting global challenges of linguistic and cultural preservation, the Suzhou model provides insights into marrying language protection and cultural heritage with socio-economic growth, offering strategies for sustainable regional development in diverse contexts.