DEAR FRANK:

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79-01153A000100050007-9
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
4
Document Creation Date: 
November 16, 2016
Document Release Date: 
December 13, 1999
Sequence Number: 
7
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
January 22, 1969
Content Type: 
LETTER
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP79-01153A000100050007-9.pdf194 KB
Body: 
'L t /S 0,41 - 13, Approved For Releas2000/04/17 : CIA-RDP79-011534,Q001000 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505 22 January 1969 25X1A5a1 file (Copy made and sent to thru Ch/GD) 25X1A9a Dear Frank 25X1 A5a 1 I should like to pass on to you a more formal, and I hope a more useful, response to your Chinese Linguistic Project than my interim reply of 7 January. Your Chinese Linguistics Project has been reviewed with care in appropriate offices; the following is a composite of the comments. The substance of the proposed research project is of interest to the extent that it offers promise of refine- ment and updating of available information on the numbers and geographic location of speakers of the various Chinese languages and subdialects. Interest in detailed descriptive characterizations of the various languages and dialects--their phonology and morphology--is of very limited interest. Per- haps, the military service language schools would find that part of the project of special interest. With regard to the inadequacy of presently available linguistic maps of China and adjoining areas, we are inclined to feel that the project proposal presents a gloomier view than is justified by the facts. A fair amount of work in ethnolinguistic mapping has, in fact, been done and the admittedly generalized small-scale map in the CIA Map Folio-- intentionally limited to the actual political boundaries of China--is not fully representative of the -extent or detail of available work on this problem. We recognize that the proposed project could provide a potentially useful compilation Approved For Release 2000/04/17 : CIA-RDP79-01153A000100050007-9 Approved For Release 2000/04/17 : CIA-RDP79-01153AQ00100050007-9 25X1A5a1 Page 2 25X1A5a1 of basic information on a subject that deserves to be better known, and we hope that will succeed in finding a sponsor. In terms of available funds and relative priorities, however, we do not feel justified in offering financial support to the undertaking. In addition to the existing relevant work summarized 25X1A5a1 in Section III of the proposal, the researchers might wish to make use of the following items in digging into the geographic distribution aspects of the problem: a. Naseleniye Kitaya, MNR i Korei (Peoples China, Mongolian Peoples Republic, ART-Korea). Moscow. USSR Academy of Sciences. 1959. This map-and-text study was compiled to 1958 in the Institute of Ethnography of the Academy of Sciences, with S. I. Bruk as principal compiler- author. An English translation of the text is available as JPRS 3710, dated 16 August 1960. Other studies in this series provide similar treatment of areas adjoining China. b. Ethnic Groups of Mainland Southeast Asia. New Haven. Human Relations Area Files Press. 1984. This study provides treatment of linguistic areas in portions of South China as well as in Mainland Southeast Asia. Thus, by treating minority language areas that extend across China's bound- aries in this sector, it provides some of the cross-border coverage that we "ignored" in the Communist China Map Folio. f a sponsor is found and the project proceeds, it would be hoped that more than 25 copies of the resulting book would be produced. This small quantity hardly seems adequate if the research effort is at all worthwhile. Approved For Release 2000/04/17 : CIA-RDP79-01153A000100050007-9 Approved For Release,2000/04/17 : CIA-RDP79-01153A000100050007-9 25X1A5a1 , Page 3 Finally, it would seem that if the research does proceed, some type of mapping would need to be done by the project team. The proposal makes reference to the fact that the research results would permit marked improvement of existing linguistic maps, but the descrip- tion of the final product contains no mention of a map 25X1A5a1tt may be worthwhile, if is agreeable, for us to volunteer a modest lever of cartographic assistance in order to insure that the final product does, in fact, include a map. Sincerely, 25X1A9a Chief, Spec a Research Staff and Coordinator for Academic Relations Approved For Release 2000/04/17 : CIA-RDP79-01153A000100050007-9 Approved For Release 2000/04/17 : CIA-RDP79-01153A000100050007-9 25X1A9a MEMORANDUM FOR: Jim Bramwell 1005 NP mag. Jim: This is for your files. Thanks much for the excellent response. As you will see I cribbed most of it. I will keep the project write up in my file here, in case you should want to refer to it again one day* jkk FORM NO. REPLACES FORM 10.101 1 AUG 54 10 I WHICH MAY BE USED. 'le ~ '(DAT Approved For Release 2000/04/17 : CIA-RDP79-01153A000100050007-9