Nisu, Southern

A language of China

ISO 639: nsd
Alternate Names: Nisupho, Yuan-Mo Yi
Population: 210,000 (2007), decreasing.
Location:: Yunnan province: Honghe, Jinping, east Lüchun, south Shiping, southeast Yuanjiang, and Yuanyang counties.
Language Status: 8a (Moribund). Language of recognized nationality: Yi.
Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Ngwi-Burmese, Ngwi, Southeastern
Dialects: Yuanyang Nisu, Mojiang Nisu.
Language Use: Use active in areas with high concentrations of Nisu. However, increasing lexical borrowing from Chinese. Code switching common between Nisu and Chinese. Many men and women spend part of the year working in predominantly Chinese towns or cities. Home, village. Older adults only. Neutral attitudes. Many shifted to Mandarin Chinese [cmn], with their children so they can do well in school, and also with outsiders, government officials who are not Nisu, non-Nisu people in township markets, elementary school teachers.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Nisu, Southern
Writing: Yi script [Yiii], traditional, limited usage.
Other Comments: Traditional religion.

Location: Yunnan province: Honghe, Jinping, east Lüchun, south Shiping, southeast Yuanjiang, and Yuanyang counties.