Page Type: languageZhuang, Dai | Ethnologue

ZHD ISO 639-3

Zhuang, Dai

A language of China

ISO 639
zhd
Alternate Names
Bu Dai, Kau Ndae, Khaau Daai, Thu Lao, Tu, Tuliao, Tuzu, Wen-Ma Southern Zhuang, Zhuangyu Nanbu Fangyan Wen-Ma Tuyu, Zhuangyu Nanbu fangyan Dejing tuyu
Population
100,000 in China (Wang and Johnson 2008). Very few monolinguals, though it is L1 learned by children in most Dai Zhuang villages. Ethnic population: 120,000. Total users in all countries: 100,200.
Location:
Yunnan province: Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guangnan county, Zhulin township; Maguan and Malipo (west) counties; Wenshan county, Dehou, Kaihua, Laohuilong, Matang, and Panzhihua townships; Yanshan county, Pingyuan township.
Language Status
6b (Threatened). Language of recognized nationality: Zhuang.
Classification
Kra-Dai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Central
Dialects
Western Yanshan-Northern Wenshan (Da Tou Tu), Central Wenshan (Ping Tou Tu), Maguan-Malipo (Jian Tou Tu), Guangnan (Pian Tou Tu). Most similar language is Nong Zhuang [zhn], but not mutually intelligible of Nong Zhuang, Min Zhuang [zgm] or Yang Zhuang [zyg] (2010 E. Johnson). Lexical similarity: 63%–70% among Nong, Yang [zhn], Yongnan [zyn], Zuojiang [zzj], and Dai [zhd]; 54% with Yongbei Zhuang [zyb] (2011 E. Johnson). A member of macrolanguage Zhuang [zha].
Typology
SVO; voiced oral stop onsets, all final oral stops have been lost except for glottal stops in some locations; 5–6 tones, depending on dialect.
Language Use
Vigorous in most areas except Wenshan Municipality. Home, village, religious and traditional ceremonies. Some young people, all adults. All ages in rural areas where L1 is dominant, but only the elders in other areas. Positive attitudes. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn], with bilingualism, in the local southwestern dialect. Also use Nong Zhuang [zhn].
Language Development
No orthography for L1 by government. Speakers use like-sounding Chinese characters to record folk songs, linguists use International Phonetic Alphabet to record pronunciation, so literacy is not possible at present. Literature. Videos. Texts.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Zhuang, Dai
Writing
Han (Hanzi, Kanji, Hanja) script [Hani], dating from Han dynasty, mainly used in non-official domains (e.g., speakers use like-sounding Chinese characters to record folk-songs). Latin script [Latn], used between 1984 and 1990s, experimental use in education in Wenshan, Yunnan, China.
Other Comments
Buddhist, Daoist.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Zhuang, Dai
User Population
200 in Viet Nam (2007). Very few monolinguals.
Location
Lao Cai province: possibly Muong Khuong district.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Traditional religion, Buddhist, Daoist.
View other languages of Vietnam

Map

Location: Yunnan province: Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guangnan county, Zhulin township; Maguan and Malipo (west) counties; Wenshan county, Dehou, Kaihua, Laohuilong, Matang, and Panzhihua townships; Yanshan county, Pingyuan township.