Ethic integration and evolution of the phonological features of

Northern Standard Chinese Language

Weimin Wang

ABSTRACT: Ethnic integration is often accompanied by language contact and language shift. The process of “ethnic integration” is the process of “remolding” northern standard Chinese language into an inter-ethnic language and ultimately into a common national language. Only by reevaluating the phonological rules and structure of the languages (mainly Altaic) of northern non-Han ethnic groups and investigating the interference with and influence on Chinese during the language shift by the non-Han ethnic groups, can we comprehend that the common national language is a language community jointly shaped by the Han people and other ethnic groups during ethnic integration. The speakers of ethnic languages are, therefore, not only the transmitters but also the co-modelers in forming the common national language.