Page Type: languageLü | Ethnologue

KHB ISO 639-3

Lü

ᦅᧄᦺᦑᦟᦹᧉ‎ (Kam Tai Lue) Autonym

A language of China

ISO 639
khb
Alternate Names
Dai, Dai Le, Lu, Lue, Ly, Pai’i’, Pai-I, Shui-Pai-I, Sipsongpanna Dai, Tai Lu, Xishuangbanna Dai
Autonym
ᦅᧄᦺᦑᦟᦹᧉ‎ (Kam Tai Lue)
Population
280,000 in China (2000 census). 140,000 monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 555,760.
Location:
Yunnan province: Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, 3 counties: Jinghong (Chiang Hung, Chien Rung), Menghai, and Mengla; some in Simao municipal prefecture, Jiangcheng Hani and Yi Autonomous counties.
Language Status
2 (Provincial). Language of recognized nationality: Dai. Some speakers of other languages use Lü as L2 for trade.
Classification
Kra-Dai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Southwestern
Dialects
Jinghong. Muang Yong and dialects in northern Thailand may converge phonologically with Northern Thai [nod] (Diller and Juntanamalaga 1990). Low intelligibility with Shan [shn] and Tai Nüa [tdd]. Different from Tai Nüa [tdd], each having their own literary tradition. Lexical similarity: 95% with Northern Thai [nod], 86% with Central Thai [tha], 92%–93% with Shan [shn], 92%–95% with Khün [kkh].
Typology
SVO; modifiers follow noun heads.
Language Use
Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Jingpho [kac]. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Some schools teach in it exclusively. Used as L2 by Akeu [aeu], Blang [blr], Buyuan Jinuo [jiy], Hani [hni], Lahu [lhu], Laomian [lwm], Lisu [lis], Ruching Palaung [pce], Sangkong [sgk], Vo Wa [wbm], Youle Jinuo [jiu].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 84% literate in any language (2000 census, Dai nationality). Given that Tai Lü has a traditional script and tradition of literacy, the literacy figure probably includes significant percentages literate in Lü Scripts, as well as percentages educated in Chinese, as well as some literate in both languages. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Literature. Newspapers. Periodicals. Radio. TV. Dictionary. Texts. NT: 1933.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Lü
Writing
New Tai Lue script [Talu], used in Yunnan Province, China. Tai Tham (Lanna) script [Lana], still used by some, particularly in Buddhist monasteries in Yunnan Province, China.
Other Comments
Traditional Lü script is used in monastaries and reformed version used in some government functions. Traditional religion, Buddhist.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Lü
User Population
126,000 in Laos (2015 census). , based on ethnicity.
Location
Bokeo, Louangphabang, Luang Namtha, Oudomxai, Phongsali, and Xiangnabouli provinces.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Traditional religion, Buddhist.
View other languages of Laos
Language Name
Lü
User Population
60,000 in Myanmar (2013).
Location
Shan state: Muang Yong township east.
Dialects
Muang Yong.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments
Buddhist.
View other languages of Myanmar
Language Name
Lü
User Population
83,000 in Thailand (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001).
Location
Nan and Phayao provinces; scattered in north.
Dialects
Yong.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Traditional religion, Buddhist.
View other languages of Thailand
Language Name
Lü
User Population
6,760 in Viet Nam (2019 census). , based on ethnicity.
Location
Lai Chau province: Tam Duong district, Ban Hon and Binh Lu communes; Lao Cai province: in a small border area.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Lu is an official ethnic community. Traditional religion, Buddhist.
View other languages of Vietnam

Map

Location: Yunnan province: Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, 3 counties: Jinghong (Chiang Hung, Chien Rung), Menghai, and Mengla; some in Simao municipal prefecture, Jiangcheng Hani and Yi Autonomous counties.