Lingao
A language of China
| Population | 600,000 (2000 L. Min). 100,000 monolinguals. 350,000 Lincheng, 170,000 Qiongshan. |
| Region | Hainan north central coast, Lingao County, parts of Danxian, Chengmai, and Qiongshan counties, Haikou City suburbs. |
| Language map |
Southern China |
| Alternate names | Bê, Limkow, Linkow, Ong-Be, Ongbe, Vo Limkou |
| Dialects | Lincheng (Lingao Proper-Dengmai), Qiongshan. |
| Classification | Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Be-Tai, Be |
| Language use | Vigorous. Other speakers in the area use it. All domains. All ages. Positive attitude. Urban residents also use Hainan dialect of Min Nan Chinese [nan]. 300,000 also speak Chinese, 200,000 use the Hainan dialect, 100,000 speaking Jun or Danzhou dialects. Chinese used in secondary schools. |
| Language development | Taught in primary schools. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. |
| Comments | Classified as Han nationality. SVO; Lincheng reportedly has 7 tone categories, Qiongshan 13. Loans from Cantonese [yue] and Hainan variety of Min Nan Chinese [nan]. Agriculturalists; fishermen. Traditional religion, Daoist, Buddhist. |
Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:
Academic Publications
HANSELL, Mark, author. 1988. "The relation of Be to Tai: Evidence from tones and initials."
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Bibliography data last updated: April-2012
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