Online lecture with Professor Zhang Zhengsheng
November 3, 2023 @ 4:00 – 5:00 PM (EDT)
The Dungan people, descendants of Chinese Hui Muslims who migrated to Central Asia over a century ago, have made their home primarily in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Remarkably, they have preserved many elements of Northwestern Chinese culture, including language, cuisine, and customs. Over the past century, the Dungan people have experienced a rich fusion of languages, giving rise to a unique linguistic phenomenon. The Sinitic-speaking Dungans have used alphabetic scripts to write their language, which challenges the view that Chinese characters are uniquely required to write the Chinese language. In the 2021-22 academic year, Professor Zhang Zhengsheng, a Fulbright scholar, visited Kyrgyzstan. In his upcoming lecture, he will delve into the intriguing linguistic characteristics of the language and writing of the Dungans, providing insights into the unique culture of this community.
The Zoom link will be shared with the registered participants one day in advance.
