Page Type: languageXibe | Ethnologue

SJO ISO 639-3

Xibe

A language of China

ISO 639
sjo
Alternate Names
Sibe, Sibin, Sibo, Xibo
Population
30,000 (2000 A. Jun). Few monolinguals. Ethnic population: 190,000 (2010 census).
Location:
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region: Gongliu, Huocheng, Nilka, Qapqal, Tekes, Xinyuan, and Zhaosu counties; Bortala prefecture, Bole county, Ürümqi city; Ili prefecture, Yining city; Tacheng prefecture, Tacheng county.
Language Status
6b (Threatened). Language of recognized nationality: Xibe.
Classification
Tungusic, Southern, Southwest
Dialects
None known. Inherently intelligible of Manchu [mnc].
Typology
SOV; genitives, articles, adjectives, numerals precede noun heads; question word initial; complex vowel harmony.
Language Use
Vigorous. All domains. Some young people, all adults. All ages in rural areas. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Kazakh [kaz]. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Also use Russian [rus]. Also use Uyghur [uig].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 50%. Literacy rate in L2: 52%. Taught in primary schools. Newspapers. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2013.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Xibe
Writing
Cyrillic script [Cyrl], used between 1957–1958, experimental, limited use in education. Latin script [Latn], used in 1939–1941 and since internet became popular, mainly used on internet and text messaging, favoured by younger people. Mongolian script [Mong], Sibe style, used in 1947–1966 and from 1974, official, primary usage, all domains, favoured by older generations. Mongolian script [Mong], Manchu style, used from Qing dynasty to 1947.
Other Comments
Descendants of an 18th century Qing dynasty military garrison. Loans from Uyghur, Kazakh, and Chinese. Traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region: Gongliu, Huocheng, Nilka, Qapqal, Tekes, Xinyuan, and Zhaosu counties; Bortala prefecture, Bole county, Ürümqi city; Ili prefecture, Yining city; Tacheng prefecture, Tacheng county.