Chinese, Min Nan

A language of China

Banlamgi, Banlamgu, Banlamue, Minnan, Southern Fujian, Southern Min

闽南语‎ (Minnanyu)

27,700,000 in China (2018). Total users in all countries: 49,674,990 (as L1: 49,287,990; as L2: 387,000).

Fujian province: Xiamen; Hainan (Hainan dialect); Guangdong province: Chaozhou-Shantou far east corner (Chao-Shan dialect), Leizhou peninsula (Leizhou dialect), Shaxi and Zhongshan city south of Guangzhou (Longdu dialect island); Zhejiang province: Pingyang and Cangnan area, and Zhoushan archipelago (Zhedongnan dialect).

Language Maps

Southeastern China

Taiwan

Language Status

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

Classification

Sino-Tibetan, Chinese

Dialects

Leizhou (Lei, Lei Hua, Li, Li Hua), Chao-Shan (Chaozhou, Choushan, Shantou, Swatow, Teochew), Qiong-Wen (Hainan, Hainanese, Qiong-Lei, Qiongwen Hua), Datian, Quan-Zhang (Amoy, Changchew, Chinchew, Hokkien, Quanzhou, Taibei Hokkien, Xiamen, Zhangping-Longyan, Zhangzhou), Zhedongnan (Southeastern Zhejiang, Zhenan Min), Gandongbei (Northeastern Jiangxi). Amoy is the prestige dialect. Amoy and Taiwanese are easily mutually intelligible. Chao-Shan has difficult intelligibility with Amoy; Hainan quite different from other dialects and mutually unintelligible with Hokkien and Teochew. Most speakers in Thailand use Chaoshou dialect. Min Nan most widely distributed and influential Min variety. A member of macrolanguage Chinese [zho].

Typology

SVO; tone sandhi, tonal.

Language Use

Other speakers use it for commerce. Most domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Also use Yue Chinese [yue]. Used as L2 by Lingao [onb], She [shx], Tsat [huq].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 91% (2000 census, Han nationality). Highly literate in Chinese and they use that literature. Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1933.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Chinese, Min Nan

Writing

Bopomofo script [Bopo], used since 1998, used in Taiwan. Han script, Simplified variant [Hans]. Katakana script [Kana], used between 1895–1945, once used in Taiwan. Latin script [Latn], used since 1850.

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Buddhist, Christian, Daoist.

Also spoken in:

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Australia

Language NameChinese, Min Nan

User Population

17,900 in Australia (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Brunei

Language NameChinese, Min Nan

User Population

12,100 in Brunei (2019).

Location

Major cities.

Alternate Names

Banlamgi, Min Nan, Minnan

Dialects

Hainan, Teochew (Chaochow, Tiuchiu), Hokkien (Fujian).

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Cambodia

Language NameChinese, Min Nan

User Population

209,000 in Cambodia (2019 J. Leclerc).

Location

Scattered.

Alternate Names

Banlamgi, Minnan, Southern Min

Dialects

Hainan, Hokkien, Teochiu.

Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Confucianist, Daoist.

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Canada

Language NameChinese, Min Nan

User Population

31,800 in Canada (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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China–Hong Kong

Language NameChinese, Min Nan

User Population

493,000 in China–Hong Kong, all users. L1 users: 106,000 in China–Hong Kong (2016 census). 70,500 Fukien and 35,200 Chiu Chau (2016 census). L2 users: 387,000 (2016 census).

Location

Scattered.

Alternate Names

Banlamgi

Dialects

Chiu Chao (Teochew).

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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China–Taiwan

Language NameChinese, Min Nan

User Population

13,500,000 in China–Taiwan (2017 J. Leclerc).

Location

Widespread: east coast cities, western plain.

Alternate Names

Bân-lâm-gú, Min Nan, Minnan, Taiwanese

Dialects

Hokkien (Amoy, Chaenzo, Sanso).

Language Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto language of provincial identity in Taiwan.

Language Use

Most also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Also use Japanese [jpn], especially adults over age 60. Used as L2 by Kanakanabu [xnb], Kavalan [ckv], Mandarin Chinese [cmn], Puyuma [pyu], Rukai [dru], Seediq [trv].

Language Development

Taught in some primary schools in early grades only.

Other Comments

Taiwanese people are called Hoklo or Holo. Traditional religion, Buddhist, Christian.

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Indonesia

Language NameChinese, Min Nan

User Population

766,000 in Indonesia (2015).

Location

Bali, Java, Kalimantan, and Sumatra provinces: Scattered.

Alternate Names

Banlamgi, Min Nan, Minnan

Dialects

Teochew (Chaochow, Tiu Chiu), Hokkien (Fujian).

Language Status

8a (Moribund).

Language Use

Older adults only. Most remaining speakers are of the grandparent generation. Shifted to Indonesian [ind].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Japan

Language NameChinese, Min Nan

User Population

75,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Malaysia

Language NameChinese, Min Nan

User Population

3,500,000 in Malaysia (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Ethnic population: 6,410,000 (2014).

Location

Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu.

Alternate Names

Banlamgi, Min Nan, Minnan

Dialects

Hainanese, Teochew (Chaochow, Teochow), Hokkien (Amoy, Fujianese, Fukienese).

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Language Use

All also use Hakka Chinese [hak]. Used as L2 by Hakka Chinese [hak].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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New Zealand

Language NameChinese, Min Nan

User Population

6,190 in New Zealand (2013 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Philippines

Language NameChinese, Min Nan

User Population

1,000,000 in Philippines (2010 J. Leclerc). 99% of Chinese population in the Philippines (1982).

Location

Widespread in Manila and other cities.

Alternate Names

Banlamgi, Min Nan

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Singapore

Language NameChinese, Min Nan

User Population

625,000 in Singapore (2015 World Factbook). Includes 448,000 Hokkien and 177,000 Teochew. Ethnic population: 1,860,000 (2010 census). Includes 1,120,000 Hokkien, 562,000 Teochew, 178,000 Hainanese.

Location

Mostly Telok Ayer area.

Alternate Names

Banlamgi, Min Nam, Southern Min

Dialects

Hokkien (Amoy, Fujian, Fukienese, Xiamen), Teochew (Chaochow, Chaozhou, Taechew), Hainanese.

Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

Language Use

Hokkien is most widely understood variety in Singapore (1979 E. Kuo). Home, food centres, army, friends. Also use English [eng]. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Used as L2 by Baba Malay [mbf].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Thailand

Language NameChinese, Min Nan

User Population

1,520,000 in Thailand (Leclerc 2019a). 1,060,000 Chaochow, 17,600 Fujian, 5,880 Hainanese (1984).

Location

Krung Thep province; used in capital cities of Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Udon Thani provinces; used in other urban areas. Southern Min constitute the majority of Thai Chinese and speak the Teochew dialect.

Alternate Names

Banlamgi, Min Nan, Minnan

Dialects

Hainan, Teochew (Chaochow, Chaozhou, Techu, Teochow, Tiuchiu), Hokkien (Fujian, Fukien).

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Buddhist, traditional religion.

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United States

Language NameChinese, Min Nan

User Population

219,000 in United States (2015 census). Identified in census as Formosan. United States Census figure for all Chinese varieties: 2,900,000 (2015).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Many also use English [eng].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Chinese, Min Nan

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A language of China

Also spoken in:

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