Achang

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
acn
Alternate Names
Acang, Ach’ang, Achung, Ahchan, Atsang, Lawng, Maingtha, Mönghsa, Ngac’ang, Ngacang, Ngatsang, Ngo Chang, Ngochang, Xiandao
Autonym
Ngachang
User Population

27,700 in China (1990 census). Ethnic population: 39,600 (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 62,700.

Location

Yunnan province: Baoshan prefecture, Longling and Tengchong counties; Dali Bai autonomous prefecture, Yunlong county; Dehong Dai-Jingpo autonomous prefecture and Baoshan district, Liangge, Longchuan, Luxi, and Yingjiang counties, Myanmar border area.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting). Language of recognized nationality: Achang.

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Ngwi-Burmese, Burmish, Northern
Dialects

Longchuan, Lianghe, Luxi, Kantau (Chintaw, Husa, Xiandao). Each of the 3 main counties has a distinctive dialect (Statistical Bureau of Yunnan Province 2004). Longchuan differs more from the others, with more Dai loanwords. Kantau is nearly extinct with just 30 speakers in 2005 (Shearer and Sun 2017). Related to Hpon [hpo], Maru [mhx], Lashi [lsi], Zaiwa [atb]. Lexical similarity: 68% between Luxi and Lianghe, 53% between Longchuan and Luxi, 51% between Longchuan and Lianghe (Shearer and Sun 2017).

Typology

SOV; 24 consonant, 7 vowels and 4 diphthongs; tonal (4 tones); voice quality contrast.

Language Use

Many Han people in Longchuan county use Achang in informal situations. All domains. Adults only. Many shifting to Mandarin Chinese [cmn], except for speakers of the Longchan dialect which remains stable. Some also use Jingpho [kac].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 86% (2000 census). Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2011.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Achang
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Buddhist.

Also spoken in:

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