Page Type: languageMiao, Northern Qiandong | Ethnologue

HEA ISO 639-3

Miao, Northern Qiandong

A language of China

ISO 639
hea
Alternate Names
Black Miao, Central Miao, Chientung Miao, East Guizhou Miao, Eastern Guizhou Hmu, Gha Ne, Gha Ne Dlai, Heh Miao, Hei Miao, Hmu, Kuv tsis has lug Moob tau, Northern East Guizhou Miao, Northern Hmu, Qián-Dōng fāngyán, m̥ə˧, m̥hu˧
Population
1,250,000 (Wang and Mao 1995), decreasing.
Location:
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Longlin county; Guizhou province: Anlong, Danzhai, Fuquan, Guanling, Huangping, Jianhe, Leishan, Majiang, Pingba, Sansui, Shibing, Taijiang, Xingren, Zhenfeng, Zhenning, Zhenyuan, and Ziyun counties, Kaili and Qingzhen municipalities.
Language Status
6b (Threatened). Language of recognized nationality: Miao.
Classification
Hmong-Mien, Hmongic, Qiandong
Dialects
Inherently unintelligible of other Miao varieties. Corresponds more or less to Ma’s Central Miao and Purnell’s Eastern Miao. At least 4 dialects (vernaculars). The official standard variety of Qiandong Miao is based on Yanghao, but with some similarities to other varieties. A member of macrolanguage Hmong [hmn].
Language Use
Most domains. Some young people, all adults. Youth move to the city and abandon much of their culture and language. Mixed attitudes. Attitudes are positive in countryside; neutral to negative in city. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn], especially children, who learn it at school but do not use it at home.
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Low. Literacy rate in L2: Many literate in Chinese [cmn], but many older women are illiterate. Large-scale literacy programs stopped but supportive attitude toward literacy promoters. Taught in primary schools. A few village schools still use Miao to teach Mandarin. 1 or 2 offer Miao classes. Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 1934–2018.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Miao, Northern Qiandong
Writing
Bopomofo script [Bopo], no longer in use.
Other Comments
Traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Longlin county; Guizhou province: Anlong, Danzhai, Fuquan, Guanling, Huangping, Jianhe, Leishan, Majiang, Pingba, Sansui, Shibing, Taijiang, Xingren, Zhenfeng, Zhenning, Zhenyuan, and Ziyun counties, Kaili and Qingzhen municipalities.