AHC: Keep Manchu up

So IATL Manchu is a moribund language spoken by 60-70 elderly people. This is bad. Challenge: Manchu a vibrant language spoken in the (non-extreme) northern regions of China. Bonus points, make it a language a Mandarin-speaking native would want to learn. Extra bonus points, awesome Manchu diaspora.

Time maximum is the Qing ascendancy. Failing that, whenever.
 

Philip

Donor
I don't understand why that is bad.
It represents of human culture. I don't know anything about the Manchu language, but it seems to me (for example) that there might exist Manchu poetry that loses its beauty when translated.

Less languages means people can communicate with each other better.
If you accept that flawed premise that everyone speaks only one language, your conclusion is valid. Otherwise, not so much.
 
The latest realistic POD would be an anti-Qing revolt no later than the mid-18th century, causing the collapse of the Qing court and forcing the Aisin Gioro to flee back to their homeland. Beyond that, the Manchus had become "more Chinese than the Chinese" and maintaining the distinct identity became difficult. Beyond Qianlong's reign, the Manchu language had become moribund among Manchus. Beyond the mid-19th century, it became demographically impossible for "Manchuria" to exist.
 
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It represents of human culture. I don't know anything about the Manchu language, but it seems to me (for example) that there might exist Manchu poetry that loses its beauty when translated.
If it's really only enjoyable to Manchu-speaking people I don't really see the point.

If you accept that flawed premise that everyone speaks only one language, your conclusion is valid. Otherwise, not so much.
There also seems to be the premise that everyone is equally skilled in every language they know...
 
Almost impossible for Manchu to spoke in the northern parts of China beside Manchuria. The Chinese hated the Manchus and this hate only stopped because they realized that the Manchus were very assimilated and that China would be smaller without Manchuria. At best Manchurian survives as a language.
 

Tsao

Banned
So IATL Manchu is a moribund language spoken by 60-70 elderly people. This is bad.

Er, Manchu is hardly spoken anywhere at all, regardless of age. In fact, IIRC, only a few hundred people can still speak Manchu. Ironically, if the Aisin Goro had not invaded China, theymight have kept their culture and language.
 
I would have the Manchu moving into China a hundred years earlier. But they don't conquer all of China, just the northern part around Peking.
Then when the Rusians move through Siberia, the Manchu can turn their attention northward. If they can link up with the related Evenk, they can stop the russians in Siberia.
Using their powerbase in Northern Chinam they can expand eastward in Siberia themselves, even moving on to Alaska. I would call this realm Shamanistan.
 

Sumeragi

Banned
Almost impossible for Manchu to spoke in the northern parts of China beside Manchuria. The Chinese hated the Manchus and this hate only stopped because they realized that the Manchus were very assimilated and that China would be smaller without Manchuria. At best Manchurian survives as a language.
Everywhere above the Wall was still a Han minority area until the Qing came around. If the frontiers were kept at the Wall, we could see the Manchu language survive.
 
1. Qing doesn't take China
2. China still has a reactionary, stagnant dynasty (like a super-Ming or something) in place that causes it to be pwned by the West in the 1800s.
3. Manchuria follows Japan's example and modernizes, becoming the latter's competitor.
4. China undergoes similar turmoils to OTL's warlord era, causing it to lag behind Japan and Manchuria.
5. Manchu is thus a popular language, like Japanese for the Han to learn. Good to know how to speak with those who have money.
 
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