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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Asia > China > Hani

Hani

A language of China

ISO 639-3: hni

Population  740,000 in China (Bradley 2007). 60% of the official nationality are monolingual. Population total all countries: 518,620.
Region  South Yunnan, Jingdong and Jinggu counties, Yuanjiang and Lancang (Mekong) river basins, Ailao Mountains. Also in Laos, Viet Nam.
Language map  Southwestern China
Alternate names   Hanhi, Hani Proper, Haw
Dialects  Hani has numerous dialects and is fairly similar to Akha [ahk].
Classification  Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Burmic, Ngwi, Southern
Language use  Vigorous. Some users of nearby languages also speak Hani. Taught at Kunming Institute. All domains. All ages. Positive attitude. 40% also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. A few also use Lipo [lpo] or Lü [khb]. Written Chinese is in common use.
Language development  40,000 can read and write Hani. Newspapers. Radio programs. Films. TV. Dictionary. Grammar.
Writing system  Latin script.
Comments  The Hani nationality in China includes Hani, Akha, Biyo, Kaduo, Honi, and other groups-all speaking Southern Ngwi languages. The Hanhi ethnic group in Viet Nam and Laos speak Hani. SOV; tonal, 3 tones. Swidden agriculturalists: rice, millet, maize, cotton, buckwheat, peanuts, tea, indigo; small businessmen. Polytheist, traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

Laos

Language name   Hani
Population  1,120 in Laos (1995).
Region  Phongsali Province, Yunnan border.
Language map  Laos, reference number 12
Alternate names  Hanhi, Haw
Comments  An official nationality in China. Polytheist, traditional religion.
 

Viet Nam

Language name   Hani
Population  17,500 in Viet Nam (1999 census).
Region  North, Lai Chau and Lao Cai provinces. One variety is east, one west of Muong Te City.
Language map  Northwestern Viet Nam, reference number 26
Alternate names  Hànhì, Haw, U Ní, Uni, Xá U Ní, Xauni
Comments  An official nationality in Viet Nam and China. 2 similar varieties in Viet Nam differ only in phonology and lexicon. Polytheist, traditional religion.
 

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

GAINER, Karen L., author. 2012. Constituent Order and Participant Reference in Dolnia Hani Narrative Discourse.  Available online