lbt ISO 639
Lachi
Visualizations
A language of Viet Nam
- ISO 639
- lbt
- Alternate Names
- Cu-Tê, Cù Te, La Chi, Lachí, Laji, Lati, Lipulio, Mia, Tai Lati, Y, Y Pí, Y Póng, Y To
- Population
- 5,000 in Vietnam (Bradley 2007a). 3,990 women, in 1,450 households (Liang 1990), including Black Lachi 2,500 in 550 households, Long-Haired Lachi 4,500 in 900 households. 15,000 for all La Chi in Vietnam (2019 census). Ethnic population: 15,100 (2019 census). Total users in all countries: 5,200.
- Location
- Ha Giang province: west of Ha Giang in upper Clear River valley (Riviere Claire) on China border. Black Lachi in Manyou, Long-Haired Lachi in Manpeng.
- Language Maps
- Northern Viet Nam, Southwestern China
- Language Status
- 6b* (Threatened). Language of recognized ethnic group: La Chi.
- Classification
- Kra-Dai, Kra, Western Kra
- Dialects
- Liputiõ (Black Lachi), Lipupi (Long-Haired Lachi). Related to Gelao. Lexical similarity: Long-Haired Lachi of Vietnam: 80% with Flowery Lachi [lbt] of China, White Lachi [lwh] of Vietnam: 30%–40% with the others, and should be considered a separate language, 36% with Gelao, 33% with Qabiao [laq], 22% with Dong [doc], 23% with Laka, 25% with Hlai [lic].
- Language Use
- Continue to use the language. Also use Chinese [zho]. Also use Zhuang [zha], and some varieties of Miao.
- Writing
- Unwritten [Qaax].
- Other Comments
- ‘Red’, ‘Flowery’, refer to clothing color or other features of physical appearance. Traditional religion.
- Language Resources
- OLAC resources in and about Lachi
Also Spoken in
- Location
- Yunnan province: Miao and Wenshan Zhuang autonomous prefectures, southern Maguan county, several villages.
- Dialects
- Lipute (Bag Lachi), Liputcio (Han Lachi), Lipuke (Red Lachi), Lipuliongtco (Flowery Lachi), Liputiõ (Black Lachi), Lipupi (Long-Haired Lachi).
- Language Status
- 8a (Moribund)
- Language Use
- Older adults only. Positive attitudes. Language preservation important to them. All shifted to Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Most shifted to Nong Zhuang [zhn]. Used as L2 by Zaiwa [atb].
- Other Comments
- Ethnic Lachi in Nanlao (Bag Lachi), Renhe (Han or Sinocized Lachi), Jiahanqing (Han or Sinocized Lachi) and Xiaobazi (Red Lachi) no longer speak Lachi fluently, but understand some. View other languages of China
Language Name
Lachi
User Population
200 in China (Bradley 2007a), decreasing. No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 2,600.
