ISBN: 0878083510
Review by: Steve Marut
DW Cindy and I attended the recent Teach 2001 conference sponsored by the Houston Association of Christian Educators (HACE). At the conference, one of the exhibitors was selling a book entitled "Operation China" by Paul Hattaway. This book is a very well researched catalog of each of the 490 distinct ethnolinguistic people groups that comprise the population of modern China. Some of the groups are relatively small (+ or - 50,000) while others are very large (millions). Officially, the Chinese government recognizes 55 distinct "minzu" or nationalities. The author shows how each of the 490 peoplegroups relate to the official government classifications and also explains what makes each group unique.
Often, the thing that makes each group unique is language. The author points out that often the language differences in China are attributed to distinct dialects. When we translate "dialect" into our contemporary Western context, we tend to think that it is a comparatively small distinction. For example, we might regard the way people speak in Maine, in Texas, and in London as different dialects of English. People in all three places can understand each other when speaking, but they might easily misunderstand some words or phrases.
Hattaway says: "What makes Chinese different is the number and complexity of its dialects. The interconnections between its dialects are in fact as complicated as those which connect a family of languages. Romance languages, such as Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Italian, are linked to each other about as closely as the Chinese dialects are. From a linguistic point of view, the Chinese "dialects" could be considered different languages, just as French and Italian are."
For each of the 490 peoplegroups profiled in the book, the author provides a map showing their geographic dispersion along with a written description of their language, history, customs, and religions. There are also color photographs of at least one person (many of them children) from each peoplegroup. As you might expect, the Chinese provinces closest to the borders with other countries are the most diverse. However, even interior provinces have surprising variety. Using the index provided, you can easily find the different peoplegroups found within a particular province.
Jiangxi Province, where our Hannah was born, is an interior province and is relatively homogeneous with about 8 different peoplegroups. Yunnan Province (bordering Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar) and home to many recent GWCA referrals, is very heterogeneous with over 27 different peoplegroups. Guangdong Province, also home to many recent referrals, has about 12 different peoplegroups. Within each province, the index also associates the peoplegroups with different counties. So . . . if you know the county in which your child was born, you can reference the different peoplegroups resident in that area.
I found this book fascinating! After picking it up at the conference, I haven't been able to put it down.
One caution on this book. The author is a missionary with Asian Minorities Outreach in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The book is written from a Christian evangelical perspective. Included in the description of each peoplegroup is an estimate of how much the Christian gospel has penetrated that group and how much of the Christian bible has been translated into their dialect or language. This estimate takes up about 10% of the analysis given to each peoplegroup, so it is not overwhelming. Also, it is not presented in any sort of negative way. However, people from other faith traditions might find this estimate difficult and a reason to pass on the book.
The book is published jointly in the U.S. and the U.K. The U. S. publisher is the William Carey Library in Pasadena, CA. Amazon.com lists the book, but has no copies available in stock. They estimate a 3 - 4 week timeframe for delivery. Alternatively, you can order directly from the publisher.
The William Carey Library publishers can be contacted at 800-647-7466 or 626-798-0819. To order they need the following information - Name and Address and/or Customer ID #; Telephone #; and Fax #; Mode of Payment you would prefer. You can use a Visa or Master Card, or a personal or company check drawn in US Dollar and from a US Bank. Mode of shipping you prefer. Would you like any back orders canceled or sent later?
The author's sponsoring missionary organization is Asian Minorities Outreach. If interested, you can check out their webpage at: http://www.antioch.com.sg/mission/asianmo/
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