Sociolinguistic Artifacts

This BBC article discusses the development and resurgence of Nüshu, a coded script used by women in China. It likely emerged during the Song or even Shang dynasty, and became prominent in the 19th century among women of different ethnic backgrounds who used it to cope with domestic hardship and strengthen bonds between each other. It served as a tool for rural working class women who didn't have access to the writing education those of the upper class did. By the 19th century, it had developed into an amalgamation of the 4 local dialects of rural Jiangyong County. [Published on 10-01-2020]