Xibe

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
sjo
Alternate Names
Sibe, Sibin, Sibo, Xibo
User Population

30,000 (2000 A. Jun). Few monolinguals. Ethnic population: 190,000 (2010 census).

Location

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region: Gongliu, Huocheng, Nilka, Qapqal, Tekes, Xinyuan, and Zhaosu counties; Bortala prefecture, Bole county, Ürümqi city; Ili prefecture, Yining city; Tacheng prefecture, Tacheng county.

Language Maps
Language Status

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

Classification
Tungusic, Southern, Southwest
Dialects

None known. Inherently intelligible of Manchu [mnc].

Typology

SOV; genitives, articles, adjectives, numerals precede noun heads; question word initial; complex vowel harmony.

Language Use

All domains. Some young people, all adults. All ages in rural areas. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Kazakh [kaz]. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Also use Russian [rus]. Also use Uyghur [uig].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 50%. Literacy rate in L2: 52%. Newspapers. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2013.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Xibe
Writing

Cyrillic script [Cyrl], used between 1957–1958, experimental use in education. Latin script [Latn], used in 1939–1941 and since internet became popular, mainly used on internet and text messaging, favoured by younger people. Mongolian script [Mong], Sibe style, used in 1947–1966 and from 1974, official usage, all domains, favoured by older generations. Mongolian script [Mong], Manchu style, used from Qing dynasty to 1947.

Other Comments

Descendants of an 18th century Qing dynasty military garrison. Loans from Uyghur, Kazakh, and Chinese. Traditional religion.