Dungan

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A language of Kyrgyzstan

ISO 639-3
dng
Alternate Names
Dzhunyan, Huizu, Kwuizwu, Tungan, Zwn’jan
Autonym
Хуэйзў йүян‎ (Huejzw jyjan)
User Population

56,300 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 58,100 (2009 census). Total users in all countries: 108,500.

Location

Bishkek city; Chuy region: 2 small nearby border areas; Osh region; Ysyk-Kol region: Karakol area.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Dialects

Ganzu (Gansu), Shaanxi (Shensi), Yage. Shaanxi and Ganzu varieties have difficult mutual inherent intelligibility. Debate over whether Dungan has 3 tones (a merging of 2 standard Mandarin tones) or 4 tones (with only a partial merging of the 2 standard Mandarin tones). Different from Mandarin [cmn] in phonology and lexicon.

Language Use

Those under 50–55 speak Russian [rus] as L1. Shifting to Russian [rus].

Language Development

Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 2006–2011.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Dungan
Writing

Cyrillic script [Cyrl].

Other Comments

Came from China over 100 years ago. Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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