Language Attitudes and Ethnic Identity of the Present Yi

Abstract

While language influences the formation of ethnic identity, ethnic identity also influences speakers’ language attitudes and language behavior. In this chapter, the present day Yis’ language attitudes, their language choices in different domains and the relations of those choices to their self-identified ethnic identity are explored. Data for the study was gathered from field trips carried out during 2010–2015 in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Present day Yi people’s language attitudes towards Chinese, the Yi language and Tuanjiehua are analyzed and discussed in details. Further the relationship between their language attitude and their language choices in different contexts, and their self-identified ethnic identities are also explored in this chapter.