Awa

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
vwa
Alternate Names
Ava, Awa Wa, Va
Population

98,000 (Zhou Zhizhi, Qixiang Yan, and Guoqing Chen 2004). Masan Dialect: 33,000 in Ximeng County; Xiyun Dialect: 2,200 in Lancang and Menglian counties; Dawangnuo Dialect: 30,000 in Menglian and Ximeng counties; Awalei Dialect: 2,200 in Ximeng County; Awa proper: 30,600 In Lancan County.

Location

Southwest Yunnan Province, Simao prefecture: Ximeng Va, Menglian Dai, Lahu and Va, and Lancang Lahu autonomous counties.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened). Language of recognized nationality: Wa.

Classification
Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Northern Mon-Khmer, Palaungic, Eastern Palaungic, Waic, Wa
Dialects

Awalei (’A vo’ loi, Awalai), Dawangnuo (Damangnuo, Mangnuo, Vo’, Wangnuo), Masan (’A Vo’, La via’, Ro via’, Vo’), Xiyun (Shixi, Va’). Closely related languages: Vo Wa [wbm], Parauk Wa [prk], and Blang [blr].

Language Use

Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 76% (2000 census).
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Awa
Other Comments

Possibly also spoken in Myanmar.