Project proposal

After talking with David in the last class, I found that the research work required to select the eight endangered languages would be extremely complicated, and I would probably lose focus in the process.

At the same time, the background and characteristics of each culture are also different, so I re-investigated my background and found a language in my hometown that is about to disappear: Wu language.

What is your design question?

Regarding the Chinese Wu language that is about to disappear, as a Chinese and art practitioner how to protect and display it and the Jiangnan traditional culture behind it?

This project is called Language in the wind, and I want to explore the disappearing language: Wu language. This is “the most populous unofficial language in the world. It is strange that it is listed as a critically endangered language by the International Language and Culture Organization (ILCO).” （China National Geographic Local Scenery，2019）

The inspiration came from a video call I had with my grandfather. He spoke slowly and affectionately, but unfortunately, I couldn't understand 100% of what he said. This gave me the idea of understanding this language that was gradually abandoned by mainstream society.

Why is this area of design important to you and your future as a designer?

a)The purpose of this work is not to try to completely save or revive Wu language. For me, it’s more important to let people know that these cultures have been there, provide lost identities and encourage them to believe that they and their culture are unique and valuable (due to the promotion of Mandarin, Wu language is considered by young people to be outdated, rustic). While working on this project, I also recovered some distant memories, memories of the local accent, which is also a process of reviewing myself.

“According to the Wuyu language survey, only 20% of people under 28 years old think they are proficient this. language. （China National Geographic Local Scenery，2019）“

b） As a Chinese student, I am ashamed that I don't know my country's culture very well. I can do this project to do some research on Chinese society and re-examine my hometown from the perspective of graphic design.

What themes are you planning on exploring?

a）Poetry, music

Poetry and music are the best ways to integrate language and culture. There are many records of Wu language poetry in “The Book of Songs” and “A Dream of Red Mansions”. Chinese classical arts such as Kunqu Opera and Suzhou Pingtan all use Wu as their main expression language.

b） Language itself

* Writing: Most of the characters in Wu language is rare and difficult to write, which is very different from Chinese, so it is difficult to keep it in words. Even for numbers, there are unique Suzhou numbers—Suzhou mazi

* Pronunciation: The tone pattern of most Wu dialects is divided into yin and yang according to the voicing of the initials, and then the four tones are added to the flat to get eight tones. Compared with the four tones of Mandarin, it is more complex and detailed, full of balanced beauty, and is known as the most beautiful language in China.

* Grammar: Wu dialects often use inverted sentences, and the use of quantifiers is very different from that of Mandarin. Some words have multiple meanings

What research methodology will you use and why

（Target Audience:

The young people in Jiangsu and Zhejiang，more than 20 years old, gradually unable to understand and speak Wu language，or elderly people who have deep affection for Wu language）

*Literature reading documentary watching: Get rich data materials from the Internet and online libraries

Data collection: Put online questionnaires to collect 300 questionnaires of about 20-year-old teenagers in Jiangnan to understand their understanding and knowledge of Wu language; offline interviews, in-depth interviews with one or two young people to understand their memories about Wu language. Make material such as video or sound recording.
Case study: Analyze with oneself as an entry point as a typical case, collect materials and fragments of the older generation's narration of Wu language; study other artists' projects on endangered languages.

Plan and timeline