Namuyi

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
nmy
Alternate Names
Naimuci, Naimuzi
Population

5,000 (Bradley 2007). 200 monolinguals, mainly older adults. Ethnic population: 5,000 (Bradley 2007).

Location

Sichuan Province, Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Mianning, Muli, Xichang, and Yanyuan counties; southwest Sichuan, Ganzi (Garzê) Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Jiulong (Gyaisi) county.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Northeastern Tibeto-Burman, Naic
Dialects

Eastern Namuyi, Western Namuyi. Low intelligibility between dialects, with lexical and phonological differences.

Typology

SOV; adjectives and number-classifier constructions follow noun heads; compounding; affixation; consonant cluster onsets but no consonantal codas; tense-lax vowel distinction; nasalized and retroflexed vowels; tonal, 4 tones

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. About 2,000 also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn], 500 also use Lipo [lpo], 500 Pumi [pmi], a few Tibetan [bod] or Ersu [ers].

Language Development
Generally better educated than Yi or Tibetan peoples. Dictionary. Grammar.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Namuyi
Other Comments

Officially classified within Tibetan nationality. Traditional religion, Daoist, Buddhist.