Chinese, Hakka

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
hak
Alternate Names
Hakka, Hokka, Ke, Kechia, Kejia, Majiahua, Tu Guangdonghua, Xinminhua
Population

25,700,000 in China (1984). Population total all countries: 30,082,810.

Location

Widespread with other dialects. Greatest concentration in east and northeast Guangdong Province; also in west and southwest Fujian, south Jiangxi, Guangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, and Hainan provinces.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing). Language of recognized nationality: Han.

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Dialects

Changting, Hailu, Huayang, Huizhou, Ning-Long (Longnan), Pingdong, Tingzhou (Min-Ke), Tonggu, Yuebei, Yue-Tai (Meixian, Raoping, Taiwan Kejia), Yuezhong, Yugui. Yue-Tai (Meixian) is standard dialect. Lexical similarity: with Gan Chinese [gan]. A member of macrolanguage Chinese [zho].

Typology

SVO; tonal.

Language Use

All ages. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Used as L2 by She [shx].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 91% (2000 census, Han nationality). Highly literate in Chinese and they use that literature. Radio programs. Grammar. Bible: 1916–2012.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Chinese, Hakka
Writing

Han script, Traditional variant [Hant]. Latin script [Latn], used since early 19th century.

Also spoken in:

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