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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Asia > China > Lakkia

Lakkia

A language of China

ISO 639-3: lbc

Population  12,000 (1999 L. Baoyuan). 4,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 12,000.
Region  Eastern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County.
Language map  Southern China
Alternate names   Chashan Yao, Lajia, Laka, Lakia, Lakja, Lakkja, Tai Laka, Tea Mountain Yao
Dialects  Classified as Yao (Mien) nationality, but the language is Tai-Kadai (Svantesson). Phonetically similar to Iu Mien [ium], word order to Bunu [bwx]. Not intelligible with Hmong Djua [hnj] or Bunu. Minimal variation within Lakkia. All varieties mutually inherently intelligible. Lexical similarity: 45% with Dong [doc], 23% with Lachi [lbt] and Qabiao [laq], 22% with Gelao [gio].
Classification  Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Lakkja
Language use  Vigorous. Some speakers of other languages use Lakkia for trade. All domains. All ages. Positive attitude. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn], Iu Mien [ium], or Northern Zhuang [ccx].
Language development  Dictionary. Grammar.
Comments  Classified as Yao (Mien) nationality, but the language is Tai-Kadai (1990 J. Svantesson). SVO; modifiers follow heads; consonant clusters and palatalized and labialized onsets; voiced and voiceless nasal onsets; long-short vowel distinction; 6 basic tone categories in unchecked syllables and 2 in checked with further split in checked syllables according to vowel length. Agriculturalists. Daoist, polytheist.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

SOLNIT, David B., author. 1988. "The position of Lakkia within Kadai."

THERAPHAN L.-Thongkum, author. 1992. "A preliminary reconstruction of Proto-Lakkja (Cha Shan Yao)."  Available online