Zhuang, Guibian

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
zgn
Alternate Names
Buyei, Buyoi, Kang Yei, Northern Zhuang
Population

1,000,000 (2007). Under 25% monolingual.

Location

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Fengshan, Tianlin, Longlin, Xilin, Lingyun, Leyun; Yunnan, Funing, and north Guangnan.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

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

Some intelligibility of standard Bouyei [pcc]; none of Qiubei Zhuang [zqe], Yongbei Zhuang [zyb], or Nong Zhuang [zhn] (Johnson 2011). Lexical similarity: 71% with Yongbei Zhuang [zyb], 83% with Qiubei Zhuang [zqe] (northern Taic), 64%–66% with Nong Zhuang [zhn] (central Taic).

Typology

SVO

Language Use

In concentrated Guibian areas, the main trade language on market days. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Some also use Nong Zhuang [zhn] in northern Guangnan County (Yunnan) due to intensive contact.

Language Development
Poetry. TV. Videos.
Writing
Unwritten.
Other Comments

Traditional religion.