Qiang, Southern

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
qxs
Alternate Names
Ch’iang, Rrmea
User Population

81,300 (1999 J. Evans), decreasing. 8,300 Daqishan, 4,100 Taoping, 3,100 Longxi, 14,500 Mianchi, 31,000 Hehu. Around 130,000 total for Northern and Southern Qiang. 80,000 officially classified within Qiang nationality and speakers 50,000 within Tibetan nationality (1990 J-O. Svantesson). No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 310,000 (2010 census).

Location

Sichuan province: Li and Wenchuan counties; south Mao county.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened). Language of recognized nationality: Qiang.

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

Dajishan (Daqishan), Taoping, Longxi, Mianchi, Heihu, Sanlong, Jiaochang.

Typology

SOV; heavy phonemic inventory; few consonant clusters in syllable onsets; tonal (2–6 tones).

Language Use

Parents encourage children’s excellence at school which means learning Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Some families still use Qiang at home. Home. Some of all ages. Negative attitudes. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn].

Language Development

Those under 35 are functionally literate in Chinese. Dictionary.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Qiang, Southern
Other Comments

Buddhist, Daoist, traditional religion.