Page Type: languageSui | Ethnologue

SWI ISO 639-3

Sui

A language of China

ISO 639
swi
Alternate Names
Ai Sui, Shui, Sui Li, Suipo
Population
300,000 in China (Bradley 2007b). Ethnic population: 412,000 (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 300,120.
Location:
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: Nandan, and Rongshui counties; Guizhou province: Congjiang, Danzhai, Dushan, Duyun, Leishan, Libo, and Rongjiang counties, centered in Sandu; Yunnan province: Fuyuan county.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous). Language of recognized nationality: Shui.
Classification
Kra-Dai, Kam-Tai, Kam-Sui
Dialects
Sandong (Central Sui, Southern Sui), Pandong, Yang’an. Some communication difficulty between dialects. Sandong (Central) is the standard and most intelligible in the area (Castro 2011).
Typology
SVO; noun head initial; 70 onsets, 50 rhymes; 8 tones (Wei and Edmondson 2008).
Language Use
Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Some also use Chinese [zho], especially in writing. Bilingualism is low in the main areas. Used as L2 by Bouyei [pcc].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 78% in any language for Shui nationality (2000 census). Not formally taught. Literature. Dictionary. Texts.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Sui
Writing
Han (Hanzi, Kanji, Hanja) script [Hani], used by folk singers aged 40–60.
Other Comments
Traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Sui
User Population
120 in Viet Nam (2002 J. Edmondson).
Location
Tuyen Quang province: Chiem Hoa district.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Lived in Viet Nam more than 150 years.
View other languages of Vietnam

Map

Location: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: Nandan, and Rongshui counties; Guizhou province: Congjiang, Danzhai, Dushan, Duyun, Leishan, Libo, and Rongjiang counties, centered in Sandu; Yunnan province: Fuyuan county.