Sani
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A language of China
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Gni Ni
Population
100,000 (2007).
Location
Yunnan province: Luxi, Mile, Qiubei, Shilin, and Yilang counties.
Language Maps
Language Status
6a (Vigorous). Language of recognized nationality: Yi.
Classification
Dialects
Northern Sani, Southern Sani.
Typology
SOV.
Language Use
Used by all. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn].
Language Development
Literature. Dictionary.
Language Resources
Writing
Yi script [Yiii], traditional, limited usage.
The Samei, an Eastern Yi group east of Kunming in the Guandu region, call themselves Sani, but are not part of the Sani in Shilin. Tones differ on the 2 names, sa21 ni53 versus sa21 ni21. An Eastern Yi group with a similar name call themselves Sanie, immediately west of Kunming in Xishan region and in Anning and Fumin counties. For the Samei, Sani is their autonym. For the Sani in Shilin, Sani is an exonym. The Sani of Shilin call themselves ni21, but outsiders know them by the Chinese name Sani. Traditional religion.