Abstract:

This study explores the sense of moral obligation felt by members of the Uyghur diaspora in Fairfax, VA, Munich, Germany, and Adelaide, Australia, to maintain their heritage language. Through interviews conducted with administrators, teachers, parents, and students at Uyghur heritage language schools in these locations, it was found that the effort to preserve the Uyghur language is perceived as a duty rooted in personal conscience and solidarity with Uyghurs in East Turkestan. In their homeland, the Uyghur language faces systematic erasure by the Chinese Communist Party, which enforces a shift to Mandarin Chinese, a process described as linguicide. This denial of language rights and violation of linguistic human rights threatens the cultural identity and dignity of Uyghurs, as protected under international conventions and law. The diaspora's commitment to language maintenance is thus seen as an act of resistance and cultural preservation, reflecting a deep-seated moral responsibility to uphold their linguistic heritage amidst external pressures. This research underscores the importance of individual and collective efforts in preserving the Uyghur language.