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Iu Mien

A language of China

ISO 639-3: ium

Population	383,000 in China (Wang and Mao 1995). Population total all countries: 818,635.
Region	Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dayao Mountains, Guangdong in Ruyuan County, Yunnan, Hunan provinces; Guizhou Province, Rongjiang, Congjiang, and Libo counties. Also in Belgium, Denmark, France, Laos, Myanmar, New Zealand, Switzerland, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam.
Language map	Southern China, reference number 38
Alternate names	Ban Yao, Highland Yao, Mian, Mien, Myen, Pan Yao, Yao, Yiu Mien, Youmian
Dialects	Guoshan Yao. Dialects may not be intelligible. Biao Mon [bmt] may be a dialect of Iu Mien. Differences from other Mienic languages are in the tone system, consonants, vowel quality, vowel length. Chinese linguists consider the Iu Mien spoken in Changdong, Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County, Guangxi is the standard. May be most similar to Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Lexical similarity: 78% with Kim Mun [mji], 70% with Biao-Jiao Mien [bje], 61% with Dzao Min [bpn].
Classification	Hmong-Mien, Mienic, Mian-Jin
Language use	Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitude. Adults also use Chinese.
Language development	Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2008.
Writing system	Lao script. Latin script. Thai script.
Comments	Largest language in Yao nationality. Ethnic groups: Hua Lan, Hua, Hung, Cao Long, Coc, Khoc, Quan Coc, Quan Trang, Son Trang, Sung, Tien (Tiao Tchaine), Yaya. The Lakkia, Mun, Bunu languages, plus speakers of other Mienic and Hmongic languages, and ethnic Yao who speak Chinese, are officially included as Yao nationality in China. Pingdi Yao (Piongtuojo, Piongtoajeu) is a variety of Chinese with 1,000,000 speakers, half of whom are members of Yao nationality, Guangdong Province, Hunan-Guangxi border. Tonal, 7 tones. Peasant agriculturalists: paddy rice; hunters; lumbermen; weavers; embroiderers. Daoist, traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

Laos

Language name	Iu Mien
Population	20,300 in Laos (2000).
Language map	Laos, reference number 17
Alternate names	Highland Yao, Man, Mien, Myen, Yao
Language use	Some language shift.
Comments	Almost all refugees in the West have come from Laos. Daoist, traditional religion.

Thailand

Language name	Iu Mien
Population	40,000 in Thailand (1999).
Region	Chiangmai, Chiangrai, Phayao, Lampang, Kampaengphet, Nan, and Sukhothai provinces. 159 villages.
Language map	Northern Thailand, reference number 11
Alternate names	Highland Yao, Mian, Mien, Myen, Pan Yao, Yao, Yiu Mien, Youmian
Dialects	Chiangrai.
Language use	Also use Northern Tai [nod].
Comments	All ‘Yao’ and ‘Mien’ in Thailand are Iu Mien. Swidden agriculturalists: rice; hunters; weavers; embroiderers. Daoist, traditional religion.

Viet Nam

Language name	Iu Mien
Population	350,000 in Viet Nam (1999 H. Purnell).
Region	Widespread in north highland regions; south, Dac Lak Province.
Language maps	Northern Viet Nam, reference number 36 Northern Viet Nam, reference number 36 Northwestern Viet Nam, reference number 36
Alternate names	Dao Do, Dao Thanh Phan, Dìu, “Dong” , Highland Yao, Kim Mien, “Mán” , Mien, Myen, Red Dao, “Trai” , “Xá” , Yao, Yao Kimmien, Yao Ogang, Yu Mien
Dialects	Dao Do, Deo Tien, Dao Lan Tien, Dao Lo Gang, Cham, Quan Chet, Quan Trang.
Language use	Same language as in Thailand and Laos. Not all ethnic Yao speak Mien; many speak Chinese. Part of the population figure given for Viet Nam may be for Kim Mun.
Comments	An official ethnic community. Daoist, traditional religion.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

AUMANN, Greg; PAN Chengqian, authors. 2004. Report on the Iu Mien—Chinese—English dictionary project.  

AUMANN, Greg; SIDWELL, Paul, authors. 2004. "Subgrouping of Mienic languages: some observations."  

RATLIFF, Martha, author. 1997. "Hmong-Mien demonstratives and pattern persistence."  

THERAPHAN L.-Thongkum, author. 1993. "A view on Proto-Mjuenic (Yao)."  

YAO Shun An, author. 1994. A comparison of the culture of the Yao people in China and Thailand.