ИСТИНА

The paper explores the infiltration of topolect into the poetry of Liu Bannong, induced by the Folksong Collection Movement, often labeled as “introducing vernacular into poetry” (tubai ru shi). The language of Liu Bannong's New Poetry presents a complex hybrid between the emerging literary norm, local Beijing vernacular and his native lect of the northern Taihu region. Many contemporaries noted his poetry’s merits and his invaluable contribution to New Poetry development, greatly facilitated by Liu Bannong’s professional linguistic training. Despite the fact that further influence of Liu Bannong's topolect poetry remained underestimated, the emerging connection between the topolect and the authentic embodiment of the idea of a national language has become important for any discussion about language reform in the new China.