Ethnologue

Samatao

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Samadu, Samaduo, Samou

Population

400 (2007), decreasing. Ethnic population: 2,810 (Bradley 2007b).

Location

Yunnan province: Guandu district, Kunming municipality, Zijun; elderly speakers in Yongde and Zhenkang.

Language Maps

Language Status

8a (Moribund). Language of recognized nationality: Yi.

Classification

Dialects

None known. Similar to Samei [smh] and Sanie [ysy], but not mutually intelligible (Bradley 2007a).

Language Use

Some language heritage activities underway in the village school (Bradley 2007a). No fluent speakers under 50. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn].

Language Resources

Writing

Yi script [Yiii], experimental use in the late 1990’s.