Hani

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
hni
Alternate Names
Hanhi, Hani Proper, Haw
Population

740,000 in China (Bradley 2007). 60% of the official nationality are monolingual. Population total all countries: 758,620.

Location

South Yunnan Province, Jingdong and Jinggu counties, Yuanjiang and Lancang (Mekong) river basins, Ailao mountains. Also in Laos, Viet Nam.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Ngwi-Burmese, Ngwi, Southern
Dialects

Hani has numerous dialects and is fairly similar to Akha [ahk].

Typology

SOV; tonal, 3 tones

Language Use

Vigorous. Some users of nearby languages also speak Hani. Taught at Kunming Institute. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. 40% also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. A few also use Lipo [lpo] or Lü [khb]. Written Chinese is in common use.

Language Development
40,000 can read and write Hani. Newspapers. Radio programs. Films. TV. Dictionary. Grammar.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Hani
Writing
Latin script, Pinyin-based.
Other Comments

The Hani nationality in China includes Hani, Akha, Biyo, Kaduo, Honi, and other groups, all speaking Southern Ngwi languages. The Hanhi ethnic group in Viet Nam and Laos speak Hani. Traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

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