Loloish languages
Encyclopedia
The Loloish languages, also known as Ngwi or in China as Yi
, are a family of fifty to a hundred languages of the Tibeto-Burman language family. They are most closely related to Burmese
and its relatives. Both the Loloish and Burmish
branches are well defined, as is their superior node, Lolo–Burmese. All Loloish languages show significant Mon–Khmer influence.
.)
The Tujia language
is difficult to classify due to massive influence from both Yi and Chinese. However, it may turn out to be a Loloish language. Bai also has numerous connections to Loloish, but its oldest core of vocabulary appears to be Old Chinese
, and so it may be a Sinitic
rather than Loloish language. Other unclassified Loloish languages are Gokhy (Gɔkhý) and Zauzou.
Yi people
The Yi or Lolo people are an ethnic group in China, Vietnam, and Thailand. Numbering 8 million, they are the seventh largest of the 55 ethnic minority groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China...
, are a family of fifty to a hundred languages of the Tibeto-Burman language family. They are most closely related to Burmese
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
and its relatives. Both the Loloish and Burmish
Burmish languages
The Burmish languages are Burmese, including Standard Burmese and the Burmese dialects, and non-literary languages spoken across Burma and southern China such as Achang, Măru, Lăshi, Taungyo, and Atsi.-Languages:...
branches are well defined, as is their superior node, Lolo–Burmese. All Loloish languages show significant Mon–Khmer influence.
Name
Loloish is the traditional name for the family. Some publications avoid the term under the misapprehension that Lolo is pejorative. Lolo is the Chinese name for the Yi people, but it is only pejorative when written with a particular Chinese character (one that uses a beast rather than human radical), and that practice has been stopped in China. (See Yi peopleYi people
The Yi or Lolo people are an ethnic group in China, Vietnam, and Thailand. Numbering 8 million, they are the seventh largest of the 55 ethnic minority groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China...
.)
Internal classification
Loloish is traditionally divided into a northern branch, with Lisu and the numerous Yi languages, and a southern branch, with everything else. However, per Thurgood (2003:8) there is also a central branch, with languages from both northern and southern. Bradley (2002) adds a fourth, southeastern branch:- Northern Loloish: Nuosu, NasuNasu languageNasu , or Nasu proper, is a Loloish language spoken by a quarter million Yi people of China. It is one of six Yi languages recognized by the government of China. Unlike most written Yi languages, it uses the Pollard rather than Yi script....
, etc. - Central Loloish: LisuLisu languageLisu is a tonal Tibeto-Burman language spoken in Yunnan , northern Burma , and Thailand and a small part of India. It is the language of the Lisu minority. Lisu has many dialects that originate from the country in which they live. Hua Lisu, Pai Lisu, and Lu Shi Lisu dialects are spoken in China...
–Lipho (incl. LolopoLolopo languageLolopo is a Loloish language spoken by half a million Yi people of China. It is one of six Yi languages recognized by the government of China....
, LaloLalo languageLalo or Lalopa is a language cluster spoken by half a million Yi people of China. It is one of six Yi languages recognized by the government of China. There were 300,000 Xishanba speakers in 1991, and about 100,000 speakers of the other varieties in 2002....
), Micha (Central) Yi, LahuLahu languageLahu is a Tibeto-Burman language spoken by the Lahu people of China, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. It is widely used in China, both by Lahu people, and by other ethnic minorities in Yunnan, who use it as a lingua franca. However, the language is not widely used nor taught in any schools in...
, Jinuo, etc. - Southern Loloish: AkhaAkha languageAkha is the language spoken by the Akha people. It is sometimes considered a dialect of the Hani language spoken in China, although most speakers live in eastern Burma....
–HaniHani languageThe Hani language is a language of the Loloish branch of the Tibeto-Burman linguistic group spoken in China, Laos, Burma , and Vietnam by the Hani people.-Dialects:Hani proper has three dialects: Haya, Haohai, and Bika...
, PhunoiPhunoi languagePhunoi is a Loloish language of Laos, with a couple thousand in Vietnam and an unknown number in Thailand. Dialects are divergent and may be distinct languages; these are Black Khoany, White Khoany, Mung, Hwethom, Khaskhong, Côông....
–Bisu, PholoPholo languagePholo is a Loloish language of China. Although culturally associated with the Phula languages, it is not closely related. Pelkey specifically excludes it, noting that it does not share the defining features of that branch of Loloish....
, and ’UgongUgong languageThe Ugong language is an endangered language of Western Thailand, spoken in isolated pockets in Kanchanaburi, Uthai Thani, and Suphanburi provinces. The ethnic group was first known to Westerners in the 1920s, when the language was already considered in severe decline...
(aberrant) - Southeastern Loloish: NisuNisu languageNisu is a language cluster spoken by half a million Yi people of China. It is one of six Yi languages recognized by the government of China. A distinct form of the Yi script was traditionally used, though few can still read it....
, PhulaPhula languagePhukha is one of the Loloish languages spoken by the Phula people of Vietnam and China.- Consonants :Phukha has the following consonants.- Vowels :Phukha has the following vowels.- Tones :...
, SaniSani languageSani is one of the Loloish languages spoken by the Yi people of China.The Sani call themselves . Their language is distinct from Samei, whose speakers call themselves Sani ....
, Azha, Khlula, MujiMuji languageMuji, or Bokha, is a Loloish language cluster spoken by the Phula people of China....
, PhowaPhowa languagePhowa is a dialect cluster of Loloish languages spoken by the Phula people of China. There are three principal varieties, Hlepho, Ani, and Labo, which may be considered distinct languages. Hlepho may be closer to Phukha than it is to Labo and Ani. Usage is decreasing, with about two thirds of Phowa...
, etc.
The Tujia language
Tujia language
The Tujia language is a language spoken natively by the Tujia ethnicity in central China. It is unclassified within the Tibeto-Burman language family, due to pervasive influence from neighboring languages. There are two dialects, one Northern and one Southern. Both dialects are tonal languages...
is difficult to classify due to massive influence from both Yi and Chinese. However, it may turn out to be a Loloish language. Bai also has numerous connections to Loloish, but its oldest core of vocabulary appears to be Old Chinese
Old Chinese
The earliest known written records of the Chinese language were found at a site near modern Anyang identified as Yin, the last capital of the Shang dynasty, and date from about 1200 BC....
, and so it may be a Sinitic
Sinitic languages
The Sinitic languages, often called the Chinese languages or the Chinese language, are a language family frequently postulated as one of two primary branches of Sino-Tibetan...
rather than Loloish language. Other unclassified Loloish languages are Gokhy (Gɔkhý) and Zauzou.