Page Type: languageQiang, Northern | Ethnologue

CNG ISO 639-3

Qiang, Northern

A language of China

ISO 639
cng
Alternate Names
Ch’iang
Population
57,800 (1999), decreasing. 14,000 Mawo, 14,000 Weigu, 11,000 Luhua, 8,000 Cimulin, and 9,000 Yadu. 130,000 total for Northern and Southern Qiang languages, including 80,000 as Qiang nationality and 50,000 as Tibetan nationality (1990 J-O. Svantesson). No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 310,000 (2010 census).
Location:
Sichuan province: Beichuan, Heishui, Mao, and Songpan counties.
Language Status
7 (Shifting). Language of recognized nationality: Qiang.
Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Northeastern Tibeto-Burman, Qiangic
Dialects
Mawo, Qugu (Yadu), Weigu, Cimulin, Luhua.
Typology
SOV; dual number; causative suffix; 31 consonants and 15 vowels, including 7 long vowels, and 14 diphthongs; consonant clusters in syllable onsets; nontonal.
Language Use
Parents encourage children to excel in school, which means learning Mandarin Chinese [cmn] well. Some use Qiang at home. Home. Adults only. Negative attitudes. Shifting to Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Written Chinese used. Used as L2 by Jiarong [jya].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 100%. Men are more literate than women. Those under 30 are fairly literate in Chinese. Taught in primary schools, only for first and maybe second grades. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Qiang, Northern
Writing
Latin script [Latn], used since 1990, revised in 1991 and 1993.
Other Comments
Buddhist, Daoist, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Sichuan province: Beichuan, Heishui, Mao, and Songpan counties.