Nusu

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
nuf
Population

12,000 in China (Bradley 2007). 1,000 monolinguals. 2,000 Northern Nusu; 4,000 Southern; 6,000 Central. Population total all countries: 12,670.

Location

Northwestern Yunnan Province, Nujiang Lisu autonomous prefecture, southern Fugong (formerly Bijiang) county, Pihe town area. Northern Nusu: Wawa, Kongtong, and Youduoluo villages; Southern Nusu: Guoke, Puluo, Tuoping (Tongping), and Jiajiu (Jiajia) villages; Central Nusu: Zhiziluo, Laomudeng, Miangu, Shawa, and Zileng villages. Also in Myanmar.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

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

Other dialect speakers comprehend the prestige dialect Miangu (Central Nusu, Miangu, Laomudeng) fairly well.

Typology

SOV; grammatical relations indicated mainly by word order and particles; tonal, 4 tones with relatively complex sandhi; loans from Lisu, Chinese, and a few from Burmese

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Mixed attitudes. Intellectuals want to preserve it. Also use Lisu [lis].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 68% literate in any language (2000 census, Nu nationality). Bible portions: 2010.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Nusu
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Officially classified within Nu nationality along with Ayi, Anong, 1,500 Zauzou, and 5,500 Drung. Traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

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