Awa

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
vwa
Alternate Names
Ava, Awa Wa, Va
User Population

98,000 (Zhou Zhizhi et al 2004). Masan Dialect: 33,000 in Ximeng County; Xiyun Dialect: 2,200 in Lancang and Menglian counties; Dawangnuo Dialect: 30,000 in Menglian and Ximeng counties; Awalei Dialect: 2,200 in Ximeng County; Awa proper: 30,600 In Lancan County.

Location

Yunnan province: Simao prefecture: Lahu and Va, Lancang Lahu, Menglian Dai, and Ximeng Va autonomous counties.

Language Maps
Language Status

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

Classification
Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Northern Mon-Khmer, Palaungic, Eastern Palaungic, Waic, Wa
Dialects

Masan (’A Vo’, La via’, Ro via’, Vo’), Xiyun (Shixi, Va’), Damangnuo (Dawangnuo, Mangnuo, Vo’, Wangnuo), Awalei (’A vo’ loi, Awalai). Closely related languages: Vo Wa [wbm], Parauk Wa [prk], and Blang [blr]. Lexical similarity: 67% with Parauk Wa [prk], 50% with Vo Wa [wbm] (Shearer and Sun 2017).

Language Use

Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 76% (2000 census).

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Awa
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Different from U (Awa) [uuu]. Some speakers in Northern Shan State, Myanmar. At least one village in Eastern Shan State, Myanmar.