Ersu
A language of China
| Population | 20,000 (Shearer and Sun 2002). 500 monolinguals. Ersu (Eastern Ersu, 13,000), Duoxu (Central Ersu, 3000), Lizu (Western Ersu, 4000). |
| Region | South central Sichuan, lower reaches of the Dadu River; Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Ganluo, Yuexi, Mianning, and Muli counties; Ya’an Prefecture, Shimian and Hanyuan counties; Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Jiulong County; dispersed among Yi, Chinese, and Tibetan peoples. |
| Language map |
Southwestern China |
| Alternate names | Bu’erci, Bu’erzi, Bu’erzi Ersu, Doxu, Duoxu, Erhsu, Lizu, Lusu, T’osu |
| Dialects | Ersu (Eastern Ersu), Duoxu (Central Ersu), Lisu (Western Ersu, Lüzü, Liru). Menia (Menya) reportedly a dialect, but unclear relation to other dialects. Dialect differences reportedly great,with low mutual intelligibility. |
| Classification | Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Tangut-Qiang, Qiangic |
| Language use | Mainly older adults. Indifferent language attitude. About 8,000 also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn], 400 also use Lipo [lpo]. |
| Language development | About 10 people can read the Shaba script. |
| Writing system | Ersu Shaba Picture Writing, used in religious ceremonies. |
| Comments | Most are classified as Tibetan nationality, though some are classified as Han nationality. SOV; adjectives and number-classifier constructions follow noun heads; consonant cluster onsets; most morphemes monosyllabic; tonal, 3 tones. Raising silkworms; animal husbandry: chickens, pigs, cattle, sheep. Traditional Shaba religion. |
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