Bonan
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A language of China
10,000 (Shearer and Sun 2017). 6,000 Jishishan, 4,000 Tongren (Shearer and Sun 2017). Very few monolinguals. Ethnic population: 20,100 (2010 census).
Gansu province: Linxia Hui autonomous prefecture, Jishishan Bao’an-Dongxiang-Sala autonomous county; Qinghai province: Tongren county.
6b (Threatened). Language of recognized nationality: Baoan.
Jishishan (Dahejia, Dajiahe, Dakheczjha, Gansu, Gansu Bao’an), Tongren (Bao’an Tu, Niandehu, Qinghai, Tungyen, Ñantoq). Jishishan subdialects are Ganhetan and Dadun; Tongren subdialects are Nianduhu, Guomari, Gasari (Gajiuri), and Lower Bao’an (Bao’an Xiazhuang). Jishishan dialect has been influenced by Mandarin Chinese [cmn], Tongren by Tibetan [bod]. There are phonological and grammatical differences between them, and inherent intelligibility may be low. Speakers of Jishishan dialect moved from Qinghai Province to Gansu, 1858–1863 (Slater 2018, Shearer and Sun 2017).
SOV; stress on final syllable; modifiers precede noun heads; Tongren dialect allows onset consonant clusters which resemble Tibetan; Jishishan dialect has Chinese-type syllable structure.
Literacy rate in L2: 44% (2000 census, Baoan nationality). Dictionary. Grammar.
Amdo Tibetan is local LWC. Knowledge of Chinese required to excel in school and find a good job. Muslim, Buddhist, traditional religion.