Miao, Northern Qiandong

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
hea
Alternate Names
Black Miao, Central Miao, Chientung Miao, East Guizhou Miao, Gha Ne, Gha Ne Dlai, Heh Miao, Hei Miao, Hmu, Northern East Guizhou Miao, Northern Hmu
Population

1,250,000 (Wang Fushi and Mao Zhongwu 1995), decreasing.

Location

East and south Guizhou Province, Majiang, Danzhai, Leishan, Taijiang, Huangping, Shibing, Jianhe, Zhenyuan, Sansui, Fuquan, Pingba, Zhenning, Xingren, Anlong, Guanling, Zhenfeng, and Ziyun counties, Kaili and Qingzhen municipalities; northwest Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Longlin county.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Hmong-Mien, Hmongic, Qiandong
Dialects

Inherently unintelligible of other Miao varieties. Corresponds more or less to Ma’s Central Miao and Purnell’s Eastern Miao. At least 4 dialects (vernaculars). The official standard variety of Qiandong Miao is based on Yanghao, but with some similarities to other varieties.

Language Use

Most domains. All ages. Youth move to the city and abandon more of their culture and language. Positive attitudes in countryside; neutral to negative attitudes in city. Children oten learn standard Mandarin [cmn] in school, but speak Miao at home.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Low. Literacy rate in L2: Many literate in Chinese [cmn], but many older women are illiterate. Large-scale literacy programs stopped but supportive attitude toward literacy promoters. Taught in primary schools. A few village schools still use Miao to teach Mandarin. 1 or 2 offer Miao classes. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1934.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Miao, Northern Qiandong
Other Comments

Officially classified within Miao nationality. Traditional religion.