Zhuang, Nong

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
zhn
Alternate Names
Daez, Kau Nong, Khaau Nong, Noangx, Nong hua, Phu Nong, Phu Tei, Yan-Guang Southern Zhuang, Zhuangyu Nanbu fanyan Yan-Guang tuyu
Population

500,000 (Wang Mingfu and Johnson 2008). 125,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 600,000 (2007).

Location

Southeast Yunnan Province, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao autonomous prefectures, central and west Guangnan, east Yanshan, north Wenshan, Maguan, Xichou, and Malipo counties. A few in Funing and Qiubei counties.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication). Language of recognized nationality: Zhuang.

Classification
Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Central
Dialects

Central Zhuang, Liancheng, Southern Zhuang, Western Guangnan. Reportedly most similar Tày [tyz], and Min Zhuang [zgm]. Some Tày dialects near Viet Nam-Yunnan border reportedly mutually intelligible. Nong Dialects mutually intelligible for simple topics. Not intelligible of Dai Zhuang [zhd], Min Zhuang [zgm], Yang Zhuang [zyg], Guibian Zhuang [zgn], or Qiubei Zhuang [zqe]. Lexical similarity: over 70% with Nong, Yang [zyg], Yongnan [zyn], and Zuojiang [zzj]; about 67% with Dai [zhd]; 54% with Yongbei Zhuang [zyb]. A member of macrolanguage Zhuang [zha].

Typology

SVO; modifiers follow nouns, directional verbs precede objects; phonemic distinction between aspirated, unaspirated voiceless, and preglottalized voiced plosives; 6 tones on unchecked, 3–4 on checked syllables.

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. 75% also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Used as L2 by Bugan [bbh], Dai Zhuang [zhd], Guibian Zhuang [zgn], Qabiao [laq], Thopho [ytp], Zokhuo [yzk].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: A few teachers and linguists can read the recent Yunnan government approved experimental orthography. Literacy rate in L2: Rapidly increasing due to free education begun in 2008, including women and girls. In 2011, 300 Nong 7th graders received a few hours of Nong instruction. Taught in primary schools, pilot projects. Poetry. Magazines. Radio programs. Films. Dictionary.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Zhuang, Nong
Writing

Han (Hanzi, Kanji, Hanja) script [Hani], dating from Han dynasty, mainly used in non-official domains, gaining popularity. Latin script [Latn], used in 1984–1990s and from 2006, experimental use in education and official publications.

Other Comments

‘Phu Nong’, Nong People; ‘Khau Nong’, Nong Language. Over half the Nong live in Guangnan and Yanshan counties. Nong represent a majority of Zhuang in all their counties except for Funing and Qiubei, where mostly northern Taic Zhuang languages are spoken. Traditional religion.