Tujia, Northern
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A language of China
70,000 (Brassett and Brassett 2005). 100 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 8,350,000 (2010 census). Includes Southern Tujia [tjs].
Chongqing province: southeast; Guizhou province; Hubei province: southwest; Hunan province: Yanhe and Yingjiang counties. Wuling mountain range.
7 (Shifting). 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. Adults only. Most also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Written Chinese in use and used in schools. Also use Hmong Njua [hnj].
Literacy rate in L2: 88% in Chinese (2000 census, Tujia nationality). Grammar.
Traditional religion, Buddhist.