Tujia, Northern
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A language of China
70,000 (Brassett and Brassett 2005). Regularly used but increasingly the young prefer to speak Chinese and are encouraged by their parents. In most areas children acquire a passive knowledge only. No longer used in southeastern Sichuan, northeastern Guizhou, and southwestern Hubei provinces. No longer used or moribund in northwestern Hunan and severely endangered in the remaining areas (Bradley 2007a). 100 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 8,030,000 (2000 census). Ethnic population includes 1,500 speakers of Southern Tujia [tjs].
Chongqing province: southeast; Guizhou province; Hubei province: southwest; Hunan province: Yanhe and Yingjiang counties. Wuling mountain range.
8a (Moribund). Language of recognized nationality: Tujia.
SOV; tonal, 4 tones; no voiced stops or affricates.
Regularly used but increasingly the young prefer to speak Chinese and are encouraged by their parents. In most areas children acquire a passive knowledge only. No longer used in southeastern Sichuan, northeastern Guizhou and southwestern Hubei provinces. No longer used or moribund in northwestern Hunan and severely endangered in the remaining areas (Bradley 2007a). All domains. 60% older than 50 years, 30% between 20 and 50, 10% under 25. Most also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Also use Hmong Njua [hnj].
Traditional religion, Buddhist.