The preservation and cultural inheritance of the Jin northern dialect: guarding the linguistic "living fossil" for future generations
晋北方言的传承与保护：守护语言的“活化石”

摘要

晋北方言作为晋语的重要分支，是汉语历史演变的“活化石”，其存古性语音特征、古汉语词汇遗存及独特语法结构，为汉语音韵学、词汇学和语法研究提供了关键实证材料。然而，现代化进程加速、普通话推广及数字文化冲击导致该方言面临使用人群萎缩、代际断层、语言结构弱化等系统性危机。本研究旨在系统分析晋北方言的语言学特征与历史价值，揭示其濒危现状的多元成因，并提出多维保护策略。研究发现：城市化瓦解方言使用环境，教育体系边缘化方言传承，数字媒体挤压方言生存空间，公众文化认同缺失加剧代际断层。针对上述问题，研究提出“政策-教育-社区-技术-学术-文化-公众”协同保护体系，具体包括政府主导的专项法规与数字化语言资源库建设、方言课程与文化活动融入教育体系、社区依托戏曲强化活态传承、学术深化方言特征研究、开发方言文化产品、利用新媒体技术扩大传播、以及公众意识提升工程。这一综合性保护框架通过制度保障、技术赋能与文化再生产，为促进晋北方言与普通话和谐共生和语言保护提供理论与实践参考。

Abstract

As a vital branch of Jin Chinese, the Northern Jin dialect serves as a "living fossil" in the historical evolution of the Chinese language. Its archaic phonological features, ancient lexical remnants, and unique grammatical structures provide critical empirical evidence for studies in Chinese phonology, lexicology, and syntax. However, accelerated modernization, the promotion of Mandarin, and the impact of digital culture have led to systemic crises such as a shrinking population of speakers, intergenerational gaps, and structural erosion of the dialect. This study systematically analyzes the linguistic characteristics and historical value of the Northern Jin dialect, identifies the multifaceted causes of its endangerment, and proposes multidimensional preservation strategies. The findings reveal that urbanization disrupts linguistic environments, educational systems marginalize dialect transmission, digital media encroach on dialect usage spaces, and weakened cultural identity exacerbates intergenerational divides. To address these challenges, the research proposes a " policy, education, community, technology, academia, culture, public " collaborative protection framework. Specific measures include government-led legislation and digital language resource databases, integration of dialect courses and cultural activities into education systems, community revitalization through opera-based dynamic transmission, academic research on dialect features, development of dialect cultural products, utilization of new media technologies for broader dissemination, and public awareness campaigns. This comprehensive framework, through institutional safeguards, technological empowerment, and cultural reproduction, provides theoretical and practical insights for fostering harmonious coexistence between the Northern Jin dialect and Mandarin, as well as advancing language preservation efforts.