Pumi, Southern

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
pmj
Alternate Names
P’rome, P’umi, P’ömi, Pimi, Primmi, Prinmi, Pruumi
User Population

19,000 (1999). 6,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 42,900 (2010 census).

Location

Yunnan province: Lanping, Lijiang, Weixi, and Yongsheng counties; Ninglang county, Xinyingpan district.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b* (Threatened). Language of recognized nationality: Pumi.

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Northeastern Tibeto-Burman, Qiangic
Dialects

Qinghua, Niuwozi. 4 other dialects. Intelligibility of Northern Pumi [pmi] is difficult. Lexical similarity: 60% between Northern Pumi [pmi] and Southern Pumi.

Typology

SOV; adjectives and numbers follow noun heads; 40 consonants and 15 vowels; uvular obstruents; initial s + consonant clusters; tonal (2 tones).

Language Use

All domains. Positive attitudes. Also use Central Bai [bca]. Also use Central Tibetan [bod]. Also use Lipo [lpo]. Also use Lisu [lis]. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Also use Naxi [nxq]. Used as L2 by Shuhi [sxg].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 70% for Pumi nationality (2000 census).

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Pumi, Southern
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Buddhist.