| Population |
515,000 in China (1990). Population total all countries 657,000. |
| Region |
West Yunnan, upper reaches of the Salween and Mekong rivers, and Sichuan. Also spoken in India, Myanmar, Thailand. |
| Alternate names |
LISSU, LISAW, LI-SHAW, LI-HSAW, LU-TZU, LESUO, LI, LISHU, LISO, LEISU, LESHUOOPA, LOISU, SOUTHERN LISU, YAO YEN, YAW-YEN, YAW YIN, YEH-JEN, CHUNG, CHELI, CHEDI, LIP'A, LUSU, KHAE |
| Dialects |
HUA LISU (FLOWERY LISU), PAI LISU (WHITE LISU), LU SHI LISU. |
| Classification |
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Lolo-Burmese, Loloish, Northern, Lisu. |
| Comments |
Dialect differences are not great. Taught at Kumning Institute. An official nationality in China. The official orthography is with Roman script. There are 2 older alphabetic orthographies and 1 indigenous script. Agriculturalists, animal husbandry. Polytheist, Christian. Bible 1968-1986. |
| Myanmar |
| Language name |
LISU |
| Population |
126,000 in Myanmar (1987 estimate). |
| Alternate names |
LISAW, LI-SHAW, LI-HSAW, LU-TZU, SOUTHERN LISU, YAO YEN, YAW-YEN, YAW YIN, YEH-JEH, CENTRAL LISU |
| Dialects |
HWA LISU (FLOWERY LISU), WHITE LISU, LU SHI LISU. |
| Comments |
All four dialects are in Myanmar. Black Lisu is the most different. Burmese and Thai Lisu have difficulties in communicating because of dialect differences. Yawgin, Tangsir, Hkwinhpang are dialects or ethnic groups. SOV. Literacy rate in first language: 30% to 60%. Literacy rate in second language: 50% to 75%. Polytheist, Christian. Bible 1968-1986. See main entry under China. |
| |
|
| Thailand |
| Language name |
LISU |
| Population |
16,000 in Thailand (1993 Johnstone). |
| Alternate names |
LISAW, LI-SHAW, LI-HSAW, LU-TZU, SOUTHERN LISU, YAO YEN, YAW-YEN, YAW YIN, YEH-JEN, LISO |
| Dialects |
LU SHI LISU. |
| Comments |
Literacy rate in first language: 5% to 10%. Literacy rate in second language: 50% to 75%. Traditional religion, Christian. Bible 1968-1986. See main entry under China. |
| |
|
