Dungan

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Kyrgyzstan

ISO 639-3
dng
Alternate Names
Dzhunyan, Huizu, Kwuizwu, Tungan, Zwn’jan
Population

56,300 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 58,100 (2009 census). Total users in all countries: 108,400.

Location

Largest enclave in Ysyk-Kol Region near Karakol; others in Chuy Region, in Bishkek and 2 small nearby border areas.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Dialects

Ganzu (Gansu), Shaanxi (Shensi), Yage. Shaanxi and Ganzu varieties have difficult mutual inherent intelligibility. Debate over whether Dungan has 3 tones (a merging of 2 standard Mandarin tones) or 4 tones (with only a partial merging of the 2 standard Mandarin tones). Different from Mandarin [cmn] in phonology and lexicon.

Language Use

Those under 50–55 speak Russian [rus] as L1.

Language Development
Bible portions: 2006–2011.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Dungan
Writing

Cyrillic script [Cyrl].

Other Comments

Came from China over 100 years ago. Muslim.

Also spoken in:

Expand All Collapse All
Page Views Left: