Bai, Southern

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
bfs
Population

400,000 (2003).

Location

Yunnan province: Dali Bai autonomous prefecture, Xiangyun.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous). Language of recognized nationality: Bai.

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Northeastern Tibeto-Burman, Bai
Dialects

Xiangyun, Dali.

Typology

SVO; attributives precede noun heads; number classifier constructions follow noun heads; tense-lax vowel distinction; tonal, 5 to 8 tones.

Language Use

All ages.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bai, Southern
Writing

Han (Hanzi, Kanji, Hanja) script [Hani], dating from 9th century, limited use in folk songs and ritual texts, favoured by older people. Latin script [Latn], pinyin-based, used since 1993, experimental, small-scale use in education, administration, and literature.

Other Comments

Classification difficult due to heavy borrowing (60%–70%) from Chinese. Considered genetically related to Chinese, or a mixed language with Chinese, or related to Yi, or an independent branch of Tibeto-Burman. Traditional religion, Buddhist, Daoist.

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