Chinese, Xiang

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
hsn
Alternate Names
Hsiang, Hunan, Hunanese
Autonym
湘语‎ (Xiang)
User Population

37,400,000 (2018).

Location

Hunan province: over 20 counties; parts of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region; Guizhou and Hubei provinces.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing). Language of recognized nationality: Han.

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Dialects

Chang-Yi (New Xiang), Lou-Shao (Old Xiang), Hengzhou, Chen-Xu (Ji-Xu), Yong-Quan. Linguistically between Mandarin [cmn] and Wu [wuu] Chinese and marginally intelligible with them. Reportedly becoming more similar to (southwestern) Mandarin [cmn] and is losing non-northern features. 3 main dialect groups: Changyi (includes Changsha and Yiyang), Luoshao (includes Loudi and Shaoyang), and Jixu (Jishu) (includes Xupu and Jishou). A member of macrolanguage Chinese [zho].

Language Use

Used by all. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 91% (2000 census, Han nationality). Highly literate in Chinese, and they use that literature. Dictionary. Grammar.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Chinese, Xiang
Writing

Han script, Simplified variant [Hans]. Han script, Traditional variant [Hant].