How many languages are there in China? Urgent, today.

(1) Most ethnic groups only use one inherent independent language, but the Gaoshan, Yao, Barrow and Nu ethnic groups each use three languages, while the Menba, Jingpo, Yugur and Kirgiz ethnic groups each use two languages, while Tibetans use as many as 10 languages, two of which have been confirmed as independent languages. Some languages used together are similar in pedigree, while others are far apart, belonging to different branches and even different language families.

(2) It is common for ethnic groups to communicate with each other, or to use or even switch to other national languages. At least half of the 55 ethnic minorities in China use Chinese or other national languages. In addition, almost all the Manchu, Hezhe and She nationalities, most of the Tujia, Gelao and Xibo nationalities have given up their native languages and switched to Chinese, most of the Uzbek and Tatar nationalities have switched to Uighur, and most of the Jing people have used or can use Chinese. The dual-use, simultaneous communication or exchange of various languages between different ethnic groups has formed a rich bilingual or multilingual phenomenon in China.

(3) Except the Hui nationality, there are 55 ethnic groups in China who have or used to have their own independent languages. As a multi-component fusion nation, this nation did not have its own unified language in the process of national formation, but borrowed Chinese, which is rare among all ethnic groups in the world.

(4) There are many people who have the same language and claim to be the same, but they belong to different nationalities, such as Zhuang, Tibetan, Miao, Yao, Buyi, Pumi, Wa, Brown and Qiang.

In view of the above, while confirming that language is an important symbol in national identification, we should also see that it is not the only symbol, and we must make a comprehensive historical analysis of all aspects of national forming factors, otherwise it will bring confusion and difficulties to the identification of national elements in China.

How many languages are there in China? This is still a problem that has not been clarified, and it is actually difficult to clarify. According to the available data, it is generally believed that there are more than 80 languages, of which 6 1 has been temporarily confirmed as the main language. These 6 1 languages belong to 5 language families, 9 language families and 14 language branches (table 14). Among them, 3 1 ethnic group belongs to Sino-Tibetan language family, and its population accounts for the whole.

So there are 6 1 languages in China.