Chinese, Xiang | Ethnologue

A language of China

ISO 639: hsn
Alternate Names: Hsiang, Hunan, Hunanese
Autonym: 湘语‎ (Xiang)
Population: 37,400,000 (2018).
Location:: Hunan province: over 20 counties; parts of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region; Guizhou and Hubei provinces.
Language Status: 5 (Developing). Language of recognized nationality: Han.
Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Dialects: Chang-Yi (New Xiang), Lou-Shao (Old Xiang), Hengzhou, Chen-Xu (Ji-Xu), Yong-Quan. Linguistically between Mandarin [cmn] and Wu [wuu] Chinese and marginally intelligible with them. Reportedly becoming more similar to (southwestern) Mandarin [cmn] and is losing non-northern features. 3 main dialect groups: Changyi (includes Changsha and Yiyang), Luoshao (includes Loudi and Shaoyang), and Jixu (Jishu) (includes Xupu and Jishou). A member of macrolanguage Chinese [zho].
Language Use: Used by all. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 91% (2000 census, Han nationality). Highly literate in Chinese, and they use that literature. Dictionary. Grammar.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Chinese, Xiang
Writing: Han script, Simplified variant [Hans]. Han script, Traditional variant [Hant].

Location: Hunan province: over 20 counties; parts of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region; Guizhou and Hubei provinces.