Dong, Southern

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
kmc
Alternate Names
Gam, Kam, Tong, Tung, Tung-Chia
User Population

1,000,000. Ethnic population: 2,880,000 (2010 census), including Northern Dong [doc].

Location

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: 20 contiguous counties; Guizhou province: Yuping autonomous county; conjunction of west Hunan province and north Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous). Language of recognized nationality: Dong.

Classification
Kra-Dai, Kam-Tai, Kam-Sui
Dialects

Reportedly similar to Mulam [mlm]. Lexical similarity: 93% with Southern Dong dialects, 71% with Northern Dong [doc], 46% with Lakkia [lbc], 29% with Qabiao [laq], 26% with Hlai [lic], 24% with Gelao, 22% with Lachi [lbt], 6% with Hmong Njua [hnj], 4% with Iu Mien [ium].

Typology

Tonal, 9 tones.

Language Use

All domains. Used by all. Neutral attitudes. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn], for literature. Also use Northern Dong [doc].

Language Development

Periodicals. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2006.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Dong, Southern
Writing

Han (Hanzi, Kanji, Hanja) script [Hani], dating from late Ming dynasty, used in ritual texts and folk domains. Latin script [Latn], pinyin-based, used between 1958–1966 and from 1981, experimental, small-scale use in education, administration, and literature.

Other Comments

Traditional way of life relatively undisturbed. Traditional religion.