Manchu

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
mnc
Alternate Names
Man
Population

20 (Bradley 2007). Some additional semi-speakers in 3 remote villages (Bradley 2007). Ethnic population: 10,680,000 (2000 census).

Location

Heilongjiang Province, a few Manchu-speaking villages in Aihui and Fuyu counties.

Language Maps
Language Status

8b (Nearly extinct).

Classification
Altaic, Tungusic, Southern, Southwest
Dialects

Alechuxa, Bala, Jing, Lalin.

Language Use

Long extinct among the mainly urbanized Manchu, but still studied in an ongoing scholarly tradition (2007). Older adults, 50 and older. Positive attitudes. All bilingual. Shifted to Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Written Chinese in common use.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: About 50 read and write. Literacy rate in L2: 82%. Dictionary. NT: 1835.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Manchu
Writing
Mongolian script, Manchu style, used since 1599. Mongolian script, Old Manchu style, no longer in use.
Other Comments

Officially classified within Man (Manchu) nationality. Traditional religion, Buddhist.