Dongxiang

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
sce
Alternate Names
Santa, Tung, Tunghsiang
Population

200,000 (Bradley 2007). 80,000 monolinguals. Half in Suonanba dialect. Ethnic population: 514,000 (Bradley 2007).

Location

Southwest Gansu Province, Linxia Hui autonomous prefecture, 7 counties and a city; Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture, Yining and Huocheng counties.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Altaic, Mongolic, Eastern, Mongour
Dialects

Sijiaji, Suonanba (Xiaonan), Wangjiaji. Some intelligibility with Bonan [peh]. Minor dialect differences in pronunciation and borrowed words. Suonanba considered the standard.

Typology

SOV; no vowel harmony or vowel length distinction; rich in consonants including uvulars; case marking

Language Use

Shifting to Chinese. Home, religion, local commerce, oral tradition. Positive attitudes. Written Chinese in common use.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 12%. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Dongxiang
Other Comments

Officially classified within Dongxiang nationality. 30% of vocabulary borrowed from Chinese. Muslim (Sunni).