Ethnologue 14 report for language code:BLU

HMONG NJUA: a language of China

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: BLU

ISO 639-2: hmn

Population

1,000,000 in China (1982), including about 29,000 Bunu of the Yao nationality who speak it as mother tongue (1990 J-O Svantesson). Population total all countries 1,245,000 or more.

Region

The area where Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces meet. Also spoken in French Guiana, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, USA, Viet Nam.

Alternate names

CHUANQIANDIAN MIAO, CHUANCHIENTIEN MIAO, SICHUAN-GUIZHOU-YUNNAN HMONG, TAK MIAO, MEO, MIAO, WESTERN MIAO, WESTERN HMONG

Dialects

XIAO HUA MIAO (ATSE, SMALL FLOWERY MIAO), TAK MIAO (CHING MIAO, GREEN MIAO, BLUE MIAO).

Classification

Hmong-Mien, Hmongic, Chuanqiandian.

Comments

Corresponds more or less to Ma's Western and Northern groups, and Purnell's Central and Western groups. Hua, the Miao (Hmongic) group, consists of 30 to 40 varieties which are inherently unintelligible to each others' speakers (Joakim Enwall 1993:12). A distinct variety called 'Gejiahua' with 50,000 speakers in Huangping County and Kaili City is believed to belong to Hmong Njua. It has 6 tones. Another distinct variety called 'Xijiahua' or 'Haiba Miano' with 50,000 speakers in Huangping, Fuquan, Weng'an, Longli, and Guiding counties and Kaili City, is believed to belong to Hmong Njua. It has 3 tones. Another distinct variety called 'Dongjiahua' in Majiang, Longli, and Xiuwen counties and Kaili City is believed to belong to Hmong Njua. Speakers are called 'Dongjian', 'Duck-Raising Miano', or 'Duck-Raising Gedou'. It shares many characteristics with Gejiahua. Hmong is an official nationality in China. Village centered. Dictionary. SOV. Has an official orthography. Agriculturalists. Traditional religion, Christian. NT 1975-1983.

Also spoken in:

Laos

Language name	HMONG NJUA
Population	100,000 in Laos (1975 Katzner).
Alternate names	BLUE MEO, BLUE MIAO, TAK MEO, HMONG NJWA, HMONG LENG, MIAO, MEO
Comments	Closer to Hmong Daw in Laos than the two are to varieties in Thailand. Dictionary. NT 1975-1983. See main entry under China.

Myanmar

Language name	HMONG NJUA
Population	10,000 in Myanmar (1987 Haiv Hmoob).
Alternate names	BLUE MEO, GREEN MIAO, TAK MEO, HMONG NJWA, HMONG LENG
Comments	Largely intelligible with Hmong Daw. Dictionary. SOV. NT 1975-1983. See main entry under China.

Thailand

Language name	HMONG NJUA
Population	33,000 in Thailand (1987).
Alternate names	CHUANQIANDIAN MIAO, CHUANCHIENTIEN MIAO, SICHUAN-GUIZHOU-YUNNAN HMONG, TAK MIAO, MEO, MIAO, WESTERN MIAO
Comments	Largely intelligible with Hmong Daw. Dictionary. SOV. Agriculturalists. Traditional religion, Christian. NT 1975-1983. See main entry under China.

Viet Nam

Language name	HMONG NJUA
Alternate names	BLUE MEO, GREEN MIAO, TAK MEO, HMONG NJWA, HMONG LENG
Comments	Largely intelligible with Hmong Daw. Dictionary. Traditional religion, Christian. NT 1975-1983. See main entry under China.