Explore the compelling paradox of Shanghai’s ascent as a global city and the dramatic silencing of its distinctive dialect. Fang Xu’s incisive analysis examines how state-driven language policies promoting Mandarin and urban development initiatives shape identity and marginalize native Shanghainese speakers. This book offers crucial insights into power dynamics and cultural shifts within a cosmopolitan metropolis. Essential for students, scholars, and enthusiasts of urban China, linguistics, and the intricate relationship between language and identity.