Blang

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
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Alternate Names
Bulang, K’ala, Kawa, Kontoi, Plang, Pula, Pulang
Population

42,000 in China (2000 census). Population total all countries: 55,200.

Location

Southwest Yunnan Province, Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Menghai county, Bulangshan, Bada, Xiding, and Daluo districts; Jinghong county, Damengnong district. Also in Myanmar, Thailand.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Northern Mon-Khmer, Palaungic, Eastern Palaungic, Waic, Bulang
Dialects

Kem Degne, Phang. In Thailand, the group from Mae Sai came from Sipsongpanna, Yunnan, China, stayed in Myanmar for a while, and have been in Thailand since 1974. 6 to 10 dialects represented in one refugee village in Thailand. Samtao [stu] of Myanmar and China is not intelligible with Plang, but is closely related to Plang and Wa [wbm].

Typology

SVO; modifiers follow noun heads; voiceless nasal initials; singular-dual-plural pronoun distinction; rich in morphophonemic processes; tonal, 4 tones

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Lü [khb], Wa [wbm], or Chinese [cmn].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 77% (2000 census). Grammar. Bible portions.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Blang
Writing
Latin script. Thai script.
Other Comments

Officially classified within Blang nationality, which includes Plang, U, Parauk, Samtao [stu] and Kon Keu [kkn] languages. Buddhist (Hinayana), Christian.

Also spoken in:

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