Lachi language
Encyclopedia
The Lachi language is a Kra language spoken in Yunnan
, China
and in northern Vietnam. There were 9,500 Lachi
speakers in Vietnam as of 1990. Edmondson (2008) reports another 2,500 in Maguan County
, Yunnan, China for 1995, but Yunbing (2000) reports 60 speakers in Maguan out of an ethnic population of 1,600.
Jerold A. Edmondson notes that Vietnamese researchers recently have not been able to locate White (Central) Lachi speakers. It is also the least studied variety of Lachi.
(马关县), Yunnan
, which is located in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture
(文山壮族苗族自治州) near the border with Hà Giang Province
, Vietnam. According to American linguist Jerold A. Edmondson, the Lachi of China are thought to have moved to their present location during the Qing Dynasty
from places in Vietnam called Maibu 麥布, Maidu 麥督, and Maiha 麥哈.
The subdivisions, with their respective locations, are as follows:
Flowery Lachi
Chinese Lachi
Pocket Lachi
Red Lachi
, Vietnam
. There are also many Lachi living in Bắc Quang District in southern Hà Giang Province
, which is outside their home district of Hoàng Su Phì
. Since the Lachi dialects of Vietnam have many Chinese loanwords, the Lachi of Vietnam must have migrated from areas to the north in China (Kosaka 2000). The Lachi people are an officially recognized ethnic group in Vietnam, and are divided as such (Kosaka 2000, Edmondson 2008):
Long Haired Lachi
Black Lachi
White Lachi (possibly extinct)
Lachi is also spoken in (Kosaka 2000):
Kosaka (2000) describes the following migratory route that took the Lachi of Bản Phùng, Hoàng Su Phì District to other locations, all in Bắc Quang District, Hà Giang Province
.
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and in northern Vietnam. There were 9,500 Lachi
Lachi people
The La Chi people live in the Hà Giang and Lào Cai provinces of northeastern Vietnam. Their population is approximately 10,765 people . They speak the Lachi language, which is part of the Kradai language group....
speakers in Vietnam as of 1990. Edmondson (2008) reports another 2,500 in Maguan County
Maguan County
Maguan County is located in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province, China.-External links:*...
, Yunnan, China for 1995, but Yunbing (2000) reports 60 speakers in Maguan out of an ethnic population of 1,600.
Subdivisions
Weera Ostapirat proposed three major subdivisions for the Lachi language.- Northern (Chinese or Flowery Lachi)
- Central (White Lachi)
- Southern (Long Haired and Black Lachi)
Jerold A. Edmondson notes that Vietnamese researchers recently have not been able to locate White (Central) Lachi speakers. It is also the least studied variety of Lachi.
Geographic distribution
Kosaka (2000) reports 6,000 - 8,000 Lachi speakers in Vietnam, and 2,000 in China. The Lachi of China are currently classified as Zhuang (Li 2000), while the Lachi of Vietnam have official status as a separate ethnic group.China
The Lachi of China live in various locations in Maguan CountyMaguan County
Maguan County is located in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province, China.-External links:*...
(马关县), Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
, which is located in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture
Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture
Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture is an autonomous prefecture in Yunnan Province, China.-Subdivisions:-Ethnic groups:Wenshan is highly diverse...
(文山壮族苗族自治州) near the border with Hà Giang Province
Hà Giang Province
Hà Giang is a province in northeastern Vietnam. It is located in the far north of the country, and contains Vietnam’s northernmost point. It shares a 270 km long border with Yunnan province of southern China. Hence it is known as the final frontier of Vietnam...
, Vietnam. According to American linguist Jerold A. Edmondson, the Lachi of China are thought to have moved to their present location during the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
from places in Vietnam called Maibu 麥布, Maidu 麥督, and Maiha 麥哈.
The subdivisions, with their respective locations, are as follows:
Flowery Lachi
- Jinchang Zhongzhai 金厂中寨
- Sanjiajie 三家街
Chinese Lachi
- Jiahanqing 夹寒箐 in Niulongshan 牛龙山
- Dujiaozhai 独脚寨
- Shi'er Daohe 十二道河
- Laozhai 老寨
- Renhezhen 仁和镇 in Baishiyan 白石岩
- Shiqiao 石桥
- Huomuqing 火木箐
Pocket Lachi
- Nanlaoxiang 南捞乡 in Busu 布苏
Red Lachi
- Xiaobazizhen 小坝子镇 in Tianpeng 田棚
- Lajie 拉劫
Vietnam
The Lachi live mostly in Xín Mần District and Hoàng Su Phì District, Hà Giang ProvinceHà Giang Province
Hà Giang is a province in northeastern Vietnam. It is located in the far north of the country, and contains Vietnam’s northernmost point. It shares a 270 km long border with Yunnan province of southern China. Hence it is known as the final frontier of Vietnam...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. There are also many Lachi living in Bắc Quang District in southern Hà Giang Province
Hà Giang Province
Hà Giang is a province in northeastern Vietnam. It is located in the far north of the country, and contains Vietnam’s northernmost point. It shares a 270 km long border with Yunnan province of southern China. Hence it is known as the final frontier of Vietnam...
, which is outside their home district of Hoàng Su Phì
Hoang Su Phi
Hoang Su Phi is a district of Ha Giang Province in the northeastern region of Vietnam. the district had a population of 53,937. The district covers an area of 629 km²...
. Since the Lachi dialects of Vietnam have many Chinese loanwords, the Lachi of Vietnam must have migrated from areas to the north in China (Kosaka 2000). The Lachi people are an officially recognized ethnic group in Vietnam, and are divided as such (Kosaka 2000, Edmondson 2008):
Long Haired Lachi
- Bản Phùng, Hoàng Su Phì District — largest village; regarded as cradle site
Black Lachi
- Bản Díu, Xín Mần — speakers have shifted to the Nùng languageNung peopleThe Nùng are an ethnic minority in Vietnam. In China, the Nùng, together with the Tày, are classified as Zhuang people.-Description:The population of the Nùng is estimated to be more than 700,000...
White Lachi (possibly extinct)
- Bản Pắng, Hoàng Su Phì District — speakers have shifted to the Nùng languageNung peopleThe Nùng are an ethnic minority in Vietnam. In China, the Nùng, together with the Tày, are classified as Zhuang people.-Description:The population of the Nùng is estimated to be more than 700,000...
, the regional lingua franca - Bản Máy, Hoàng Su Phì District — speakers have shifted to the Nùng languageNung peopleThe Nùng are an ethnic minority in Vietnam. In China, the Nùng, together with the Tày, are classified as Zhuang people.-Description:The population of the Nùng is estimated to be more than 700,000...
, the regional lingua franca
Lachi is also spoken in (Kosaka 2000):
- Tân Lợi hamlet (Thôn Tân Lợi), Bắc Quang District, Hà Giang ProvinceHà Giang ProvinceHà Giang is a province in northeastern Vietnam. It is located in the far north of the country, and contains Vietnam’s northernmost point. It shares a 270 km long border with Yunnan province of southern China. Hence it is known as the final frontier of Vietnam...
— formed through a secondary migration from Tân Lập village (Xã Tân Lập), which is now called Xã Tân Thành. - Chí Cà, Xín Mần District, Hà Giang ProvinceHà Giang ProvinceHà Giang is a province in northeastern Vietnam. It is located in the far north of the country, and contains Vietnam’s northernmost point. It shares a 270 km long border with Yunnan province of southern China. Hence it is known as the final frontier of Vietnam...
- Bắc Hà District, Lào Cai ProvinceLao Cai ProvinceLào Cai , is a province of northeastern in the mountainous region of Vietnam, bordering the province of Yunnan in the China. The province covers an area of 6383.9 square kilometres and as of 2008 it had a population of 602,300 people....
— descended from Bản Phùng migrants; can no longer speak Lachi (e.g., in Thôn Núng Choáng, Xã Nàm Sán) - Mường Khương District, Lào Cai ProvinceLao Cai ProvinceLào Cai , is a province of northeastern in the mountainous region of Vietnam, bordering the province of Yunnan in the China. The province covers an area of 6383.9 square kilometres and as of 2008 it had a population of 602,300 people....
— descended from Bản Phùng migrants; can no longer speak Lachi
Kosaka (2000) describes the following migratory route that took the Lachi of Bản Phùng, Hoàng Su Phì District to other locations, all in Bắc Quang District, Hà Giang Province
Hà Giang Province
Hà Giang is a province in northeastern Vietnam. It is located in the far north of the country, and contains Vietnam’s northernmost point. It shares a 270 km long border with Yunnan province of southern China. Hence it is known as the final frontier of Vietnam...
.
- Bản Phùng, Hoàng Su Phì District
- Xã Tân Lập (now called Xã Tân Thành)
- Xã Yên Bình
- Xã Vĩ Thượng
- Xã Xuân Giang (later divided into two parts, including Nà Khương, which has the higher concentration of Lachi people)