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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Asia > China > Chinese, Hakka

Chinese, Hakka

A language of China

ISO 639-3: hak

Population	25,700,000 in China (1984). Population total all countries: 30,032,520.
Region	Widespread with other dialects. Eastern and northeastern Guangdong greatest concentration; also in Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Hunan, and Sichuan. Also in Brunei, Canada, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Indonesia (Java and Bali), Malaysia (Peninsular), Mauritius, New Zealand, Panama, Singapore, South Africa, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States.
Language map	Southern China
Alternate names	Hakka, Hokka, Ke, Kechia, Kejia, Majiahua, Tu Guangdonghua, Xinminhua
Dialects	Yue-Tai (Meixian, Raoping, Taiwan Kejia), Yuezhong (Central Guangdong), Huizhou, Yuebei (Northern Guangdong), Tingzhou (Min-Ke), Ning-Long (Longnan), Yugui, Tonggu. Yue-Tai is standard dialect.
Classification	Sino-Tibetan, Chinese A member of macrolanguage Chinese [zho] (China).
Language development	Literacy rate in L2: 91%. Bible: 1916.
Writing system	Latin script, used in Taiwan.
Comments	Majority classified as Han nationality in China.

Also spoken in:

Brunei

Language name	Chinese, Hakka
Population	5,650 in Brunei (2006).
Alternate names	Hakka

Canada

Language name	Chinese, Hakka
Population	5,900 in Canada (2001 census).
Alternate names	Hakka

French Guiana

Language name	Chinese, Hakka
Population	5,000 in French Guiana.
Language use	Use is being maintained.

French Polynesia

Language name	Chinese, Hakka
Population	19,200 in French Polynesia (1987).
Alternate names	Hakka
Comments	Shifting to Tahitian [tah]. Buddhist, Christian, Chinese traditional religion.

Indonesia (Java and Bali)

Language name	Chinese, Hakka
Population	640,000 in Indonesia (1982).

Malaysia (Peninsular)

Language name	Chinese, Hakka
Population	1,090,000 in Malaysia (2000).

Panama

Language name	Chinese, Hakka
Population	6,000 in Panama (1981 MARC). Ethnic population: 30,000 to 60,000 including Cantonese (1981 MARC).
Region	Panama City, Colón, larger towns of interior.
Language use	Also use Spanish.
Comments	Merchants.

Singapore

Language name	Chinese, Hakka
Population	69,000 in Singapore (1980). Ethnic population: 151,000 in Singapore (1993).
Alternate names	Hokka, Ke, Kechia, Kehia, Kek, Khek

Suriname

Language name	Chinese, Hakka
Population	7,010 in Suriname (2000). Ethnic population: 12,000 Chinese, including Yue (1971).

Taiwan

Language name	Chinese, Hakka
Population	2,370,000 in Taiwan (1993).
Region	Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Pingtung counties. Shi Xien in north and south; Hi-Lu in central, north central.
Language map	Taiwan
Dialects	Hailu (Hoiluk, Hoilluk, Hi-Lu), Sanhsien (Shigen, Shixien, Shi Xien).
Comments	Settled in Taiwan for 200 years. Sanhsien closely resembles Yuetai of Mainland China. Hailu closely resembles Yong-Ting or Yuqui of Mainland China.

Thailand

Language name	Chinese, Hakka
Population	58,800 in Thailand (1984).
Region	Cities.
Alternate names	Hakka
Comments	Commerce class.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

LIM, Hermanto; MEAD, David, authors. 2011. "Chinese in Indonesia: A Background Study."  

SIRIPEN Ungsitipoonporn, author. 2009. "The Bangkok Hakka phonology."