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Zaiwa

A language of China

ISO 639-3: atb

Population	80,000 in China (1999 X. Xu). 20,000 monolinguals. Population total all countries: 110,000.
Region	Yunnan Province, Dehong Dai-Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Luxi, Ruili, Longchuan, Yingjiang, Bangwa districts. Also in Myanmar.
Language map	Southwestern China
Alternate names	Aci, Aji, Atshi, Atsi, Atsi-Maru, Atzi, Azi, Szi, Tsaiwa, Xiaoshanhua
Dialects	Longzhun, Tingzhu, Bengwa. Some consider Pela [bxd] (Bola, Polo, Pala), Lashi [lsi] (Leqi) and Maru [mhx] (Langsu, Langwa) to be dialects of Zaiwa. Related to Hpon [hpo], Achang [acn]. Dialects have only minor phonological differences.
Classification	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Lolo-Burmese, Burmish, Northern
Language use	Vigorous. Speakers of other languages in the area also speak Zaiwa. All domains. All ages. Used less by young people and children. Positive attitude. Intellectuals are concerned about preservation of Zaiwa. Most also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn], Lisu [lis], or Bai [bca]. A few also use Lachi [lbt], Maru [mhx], or Jingpho [kac].
Language development	Literacy rate in L1: 50,000 can read and write. Taught in primary schools. Newspapers. Radio programs. TV. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1939–1951.
Writing system	Latin script, developed in 1957.
Comments	Classified as Jingpo nationality. SOV; 3 tone categories in unchecked syllables and 2 in checked; tense-lax vowel contrast. Agriculturalists; beekeepers; animal husbandry: chickens, pigs, sheep, cattle. Polytheist, Daoist, Christian.

Also spoken in:

Myanmar

Language name	Zaiwa
Population	30,000 in Myanmar (1997).
Region	Kachin state, Sedan; Shan state, Kentung District.
Alternate names	Aci, Atshi, Atsi, Atzi, Azi, Tsaiwa, Zi
Language use	Also use Jingpho [kac].
Language development	Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%.
Comments	Their name and the Chinese name is Tsaiwa, the Jingpho name is Atsi, the Burmese name is Zi. Peasant agriculturalists.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

WANNEMACHER, Mark, author. 1996. Aspects of Zaiwa prosody: an autosegmental account.

WANNEMACHER, Mark, author. 1996. The interaction of tone, phonation type and glottal features in Zaiwa.

WANNEMACHER, Mark, author. 1996. Zaiwa syllable structure.

WANNEMACHER, Mark, author. 1998. Aspects of Zaiwa Prosody.