Bouyei

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
pcc
Alternate Names
Bo-I, Bui, Buyei, Buyi, Buyui, Chung-Chia, Dioi, Giay, Pui, Pu-I, Pujai, Pu-Jui, Puyi, Puyoi, Shuihu, Tujia, Zhongjia
Population

2,600,000 in China (2000 census). Population total all countries: 2,649,200. Ethnic population: 2,945,000 (2000 census).

Location

Guizhou-Yunnan plateau, mainly Buyi-Miao and Miao-Dong autonomous prefectures, Zhenning and Guanling counties, south and southwest Guizhou; Yunnan Province, Luoping county; Sichuan Province, Ningnan and Huidong counties. Also in France (Giáy), Viet Nam (Giáy).

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Northern
Dialects

Qiannan (Bouyei 1, Southern Guizhou), Qianxi (Bouyei 3, Western Guizhou), Qianzhong (Bouyei 2, Central Guizhou).

Typology

SVO; modifiers follow heads; highly monosyllabic; tonal, 6 tone categories in open syllables and 4 in closed syllables

Language Use

Vigorous. Rare oral use in local administration, commerce, education. All ages. Also use Chinese [cmn].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Very low. Literacy rate in L2: 76% (2000 census). Poetry. Films. Dictionary.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bouyei
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Officially classified within Bouyei nationality. Ethnonym: Giay in Viet Nam. Quinnan hua (Quinnan speech) also refers to a dialect of southwestern Mandarin spoken in Guizhou, and should not be confused with the Qiannan Bouyei dialect. Traditional religion, Daoist, Buddhist.

Also spoken in:

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