Measures urged to protect vanishing ethnic languages

For ethnic groups in China, moving from remote villages in the mountains or grasslands to modern communities means better prospects. But it puts their native language at risk of extinction, according to political advisers.

To help preserve this unique culture, A Lihui and Du Mingyan, both members of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, have suggested using digital and mobile technology to create databases of ethnic languages.

"We must try every means possible to save these languages from extinction," said A Lihui, who is from the Oroqen ethnic group, which has fewer than 9,000 members, mainly living in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Heilongjiang province.