Pumi, Northern

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
pmi
Alternate Names
Ch’rame, Pimi, P’ömi, Primmi, P’rome, Pruumi, P’umi
Population

35,000 (1999). 10,000 monolinguals. 5,000 in Pumi nationality, 30,000 in Tibetan nationality (1994).

Location

Southwest Sichuan Province, Muli, Yanyuan, and Jiulong counties; northwest Yunnan Province, Ninglang county, Yongning district.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

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

Taoba. 4 other dialects. Intelligibility of Southern Pumi [pmj] is low. Lexical similarity: between Northern Pumi and Southern Pumi [pmj] is 60%, grammatical differences minor.

Typology

jekel

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn], Tibetan [bod], Lisu [lis], Bai [bca], Naxi [nxq], or Lipo [lpo].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 0%. Literacy rate in L2: 70% for Pumi nationality (2000 census). Trial use in 1 school. Poetry. Grammar.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Pumi, Northern
Other Comments

Most classified under Tibetan nationality rather than Pumi nationality. Traditional religion, Buddhist (Lamaist).