Abstract: Media convergence and intelligent technologies are reshaping the communication ecology of ethnic-language programs,
driving them to explore new ways of communicating the sense of community of the Chinese nation. The Mengdai Dehong Dai-language
video channel has constructed a "dual-path model of cultural identity" in practice. It reveals that the "instrumental-functional path"
solidifies the realistic foundation of identity through localized services, while the "expressive-emotional path" deepens the emotional
foundation of identity through cultural performances and emotional interactions. The interplay of these two pathways drives the
audience's transition from cultural perception to national identity. This model offers an innovative perspective for understanding the
mechanisms of new media cultural dissemination in border ethnic minority areas, while providing theoretical insights for optimizing
dissemination strategies for ethnic language programs.

Key words:  , ethnic language programs, video channel, sense of community of the Chinese nation, cultural identification, dual-path
model