Gelao Languages
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Gelao (
autonym Autonym may refer to: * Autonym, the name used by a person to refer to themselves or their language; see Exonym and endonym * Autonym (botany), an automatically created infrageneric or infraspecific name See also * Nominotypical subspecies, in zo ...
: Kláo, Chinese: 仡佬 Gēlǎo, Vietnamese: Cờ Lao) is a cluster of
Kra languages The Kra languages (also known as the Geyang 仡央 or Kadai languages) are a branch of the Kra–Dai language family spoken in southern China (Guizhou, Guangxi, Yunnan) and in northern Vietnam ( Hà Giang Province). Names The name ''Kra'' comes ...
in the Kra–Dai language family. It is spoken by the
Gelao people The Gelao people (also spelled Gelo) ( Gelao: ''Klau'', ) are an ethnic group of China and Vietnam. They form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. However, many Gelao are also variously classified a ...
in
southern China South China () is a geographical and cultural region that covers the southernmost part of China. Its precise meaning varies with context. A notable feature of South China in comparison to the rest of China is that most of its citizens are not n ...
and
northern Vietnam Northern Vietnam ( vi, Bắc Bộ) is one of three geographical regions within Vietnam. It consists of three administrative regions: the Northwest (Vùng Tây Bắc), the Northeast (Vùng Đông Bắc), and the Red River Delta (Đồng Bằng S ...
. Despite an ethnic population of 580,000 (2000 census of China), only a few thousand still speak Gelao in China. Estimates run from 3,000 in China by Li in 1999, of which 500 are monolinguals, to 7,900 by Edmondson in 2008. Edmondson (2002) estimates that the three Gelao
varieties Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
of Vietnam have only about 350 speakers altogether.


External relationships

Like Buyang, another
Kra language The Kra languages (also known as the Geyang 仡央 or Kadai languages) are a branch of the Kra–Dai language family spoken in southern China (Guizhou, Guangxi, Yunnan) and in northern Vietnam ( Hà Giang Province). Names The name ''Kra'' com ...
, Gelao contains many words which are likely to be Austronesian cognates. (''See
Austro-Tai languages The Austro-Tai languages, sometimes also Austro-Thai languages, are a proposed language family that comprises the Austronesian languages and the Kra–Dai languages. Related proposals include Austric ( Wilhelm Schmidt in 1906) and Sino-Austrone ...
''.) As noted by Li and Zhou,李锦芳/Li, Jinfang and 周国炎/Guoyan Zhou. 仡央语言探索/Geyang yu yan tan suo. Beijing, China: 中央民族大学出版社/Zhong yang min zu da xue chu ban she, 1999. Gelao shares much vocabulary with the Hlai and Ong Be languages, suggesting contact with Pre-Hlai speakers before their migration to
Hainan Hainan (, ; ) is the smallest and southernmost province of the People's Republic of China (PRC), consisting of various islands in the South China Sea. , the largest and most populous island in China,The island of Taiwan, which is slightly l ...
.


Demographics


China

Zhang Jimin estimated a total of over 10,000 Gelao speakers in the early 1990s, while Li Jinfang places this number at 3,000 in 1999. Jerold A. Edmondson's 2008 estimate is 7,900 speakers. This number is rapidly declining, as the Gelao are intermarrying with the neighboring
Han Han may refer to: Ethnic groups * Han Chinese, or Han People (): the name for the largest ethnic group in China, which also constitutes the world's largest ethnic group. ** Han Taiwanese (): the name for the ethnic group of the Taiwanese p ...
, Bouyei, and
Miao Miao may refer to: * Miao people, linguistically and culturally related group of people, recognized as such by the government of the People's Republic of China * Miao script or Pollard script, writing system used for Miao languages * Miao (Unicode ...
. Many Gelao speakers can also speak Bouyei, Zhuang, or
Miao Miao may refer to: * Miao people, linguistically and culturally related group of people, recognized as such by the government of the People's Republic of China * Miao script or Pollard script, writing system used for Miao languages * Miao (Unicode ...
, and nearly all can speak local varieties of
Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...
. Among Gelao-speaking families, most middle-age Gelao have very limited speaking abilities for Gelao, while much of the younger generation cannot even understand the most simple words and phrases. A divergent variety of Gelao known as Shuicheng Gelao 水城仡佬语 (also known as Datie Gelao 打铁仡佬语; autonym: ') is spoken in Dongkou 洞口村, Houchang Township 猴场乡 and Datiezhai 打铁寨, Miluo Township 米箩乡, both located in
Shuicheng County Shuicheng () is a district in the west of Guizhou province, China, bordering Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked province in the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 mi ...
, Guizhou Province, China (Li & Yang 2016: 71). The Gelao of Datiezhai reported that they had migrated from Dongkou 4 generations ago. Li & Yang (2016) report that there are only 3 speakers of Shuicheng Gelao left. The Mulao number 28,000 people, and are distributed in Majiang, Kaili, Huangping, Duyun, Weng'an, Fuquan, and other counties of southeastern
Guizhou Guizhou (; formerly Kweichow) is a landlocked province in the southwest region of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Guiyang, in the center of the province. Guizhou borders the autonomous region of Guangxi to t ...
. The Mulao of Xuanwei and Jidong villages refer to themselves as the ''Mu'', and in Longli village 龙里寨 they call themselves '. The Mulao speak a
variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
of Gelao, not the
Mulam language The Mulam language () is a Kam–Sui language spoken mainly in Luocheng County, Hechi, Northern Guangxi by the Mulao people. The greatest concentrations are in Dongmen and Siba communes. Their autonym is ''mu6 lam1''.See Proto-Tai_language#T ...
of Guangxi, which is also called Mulao. Luo (1997) describes the two Mulao varieties of ' (') in
Majiang County Majiang County () is a county of southeast-central Guizhou province, China. It is the westernmost county-level division of the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture (; Hmu language: ''Qee ...
and ' in
Kaili City Kaili (, Hmu language: ''Kad Linx'') is a county-level city under the administration of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, in southeastern Guizhou province, People's Republic of China. It is the center of Miao culture, hosting more ...
.Luo Shiqing 世庆 1997. ''The ethnic Mulao of Guizhou'' 州仫佬族 Guiyang: Guizhou People's Press 州民族出版社 One dialect is represented by the datapoints of Bamaozhai 巴茅寨 and Madizhai 马碲寨 of Xuanwei District 宣威区, Majiang County (Luo 1997:105, 115), and the other by Bailazhai 白腊寨, Lushan Town 炉山镇, Kaili City (Luo 1997:189); the latter is also spoken in Dafengdong 大风洞, Pingliang 平良, and Chong'anjiang 重安江. Mulao data from Majiang and Kaili are also given in Guizhou (1985). The extinct Tuman language (土蛮语) of
Sinan County, Guizhou Sinan County () is a county under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Tongren, in the northeast of Guizhou Province Guizhou (; formerly Kweichow) is a landlocked province in the southwest region of the People's Republic of ...
was a variety of Gelao. Hsiu (2017) reports a Wai Gelao (
Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...
: 歪仡佬语) language from Dingjiapo 丁家坡, Mugang Village 木杠村, Muyang Town 木央镇,
Funing County Funing may refer to the following locations in China: *Ningde, Fujian, formerly named Funing * Funing County, Hebei (抚宁县) *Funing County, Jiangsu (阜宁县) *Funing County, Yunnan Funing County (; Zhuang language: ) is located in Wenshan Z ...
,
Yunnan Province Yunnan , () is a landlocked province in the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the C ...
,
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
. One 83-year-old woman remembered a few kinship terms. In Qingzhen City,
A'ou Gelao A'ou (阿欧方言) or Red Gelao (红仡佬语) is an endangered Gelao language spoken by fewer than 100 people in Guizhou, China. Only the Hongfeng (红丰) and Bigong (比贡) dialects are still spoken, each with only a few dozen speakers. ...
is spoken in the following villages (Qingzhen 2004:25-30). *Luohang village 落夯村 *Mahuang village 蚂蟥村, Wangzhuang Township 王庄布依族苗族乡 *Yinqiao village 银桥村, Weicheng Town 卫城镇 *Yangshan village 阳山村, Anliu Township 暗流乡 Zhou (2004) reports that there are no more than 6,000 Gelao speakers, making up only 1.2% of the total number of ethnic
Gelao people The Gelao people (also spelled Gelo) ( Gelao: ''Klau'', ) are an ethnic group of China and Vietnam. They form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. However, many Gelao are also variously classified a ...
. The following table, based on Zhou (2004:150–151), shows the number of Gelao speakers in each
county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
as of the 1990s. All counties are in
Guizhou Guizhou (; formerly Kweichow) is a landlocked province in the southwest region of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Guiyang, in the center of the province. Guizhou borders the autonomous region of Guangxi to t ...
province unless specified otherwise. The Gelao people in the following counties do not speak any form of the Gelao language whatsoever, and have shifted entirely to
Southwestern Mandarin Southwestern Mandarin (), also known as Upper Yangtze Mandarin (), is a Mandarin Chinese language spoken in much of Southwest China, including in Sichuan, Yunnan, Chongqing, Guizhou, most parts of Hubei, the northwestern part of Hunan, the northe ...
.


Vietnam

The most endangered variety, Red Gelao of Vietnam, is spoken by only about 50 people. Many speakers have shifted to
Southwestern Mandarin Southwestern Mandarin (), also known as Upper Yangtze Mandarin (), is a Mandarin Chinese language spoken in much of Southwest China, including in Sichuan, Yunnan, Chongqing, Guizhou, most parts of Hubei, the northwestern part of Hunan, the northe ...
or
Hmong Hmong may refer to: * Hmong people, an ethnic group living mainly in Southwest China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand * Hmong cuisine * Hmong customs and culture ** Hmong music ** Hmong textile art * Hmong language, a continuum of closely related ton ...
. The Red Gelao people, who call themselves the ', send brides back and forth among the villages of Na Khê and Bạch Đích (or Bìch Đich) in Yên Minh District,
Hà Giang Province Hà is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as He in Chinese and Ha in Korean. Ha is the anglicized variation of the surname Hà. It is also the anglicized variation of Hạ. Notable people with the surname Hà *Hà Kiều Anh, Mis ...
, Vietnam and another village in Fanpo,
Malipo County Malipo County (, vi, Ma Lật Pha) is under the administration of the Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, in the southeast of Yunnan province, China, bordering Ha Giang Province to the southeast. Administrative divisions In the presen ...
,
Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked Provinces of China, province in Southwest China, the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is ...
, China (autonym: ') in order to ensure the continual survival of their ethnic group. Edmondson (1998) reports that there are also Red Gelao people in Cán Tí,
Quản Bạ District Quản Bạ is a rural district of Ha Giang province in the Northeast The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily compo ...
and Túng Sán,
Hoàng Su Phì District Huang (; ) is a Chinese surname that originally means and refers to jade people were wearing and decorating in ancient times. While ''Huáng'' is the pinyin romanization of the word, it may also be romanized as Hwang, Wong, Waan, Wan, Waon, Hw ...
who no longer speak any Gelao, and speak Hmong, Tay, or Vietnamese instead. Hoang (2013:12) reports that there also some Red Gelao in Vĩnh Hảo commune, Bắc Quang District who had moved from Túng Sán commune. However, the White Gelao of Phố La Village and Sính Lủng Village of Dồng Văn District still speak the White Gelao language.


Varieties

Gelao is not well documented, having only been studied by a few scholars such as
Li Jinfang Li Jinfang (; born October 1963 in Tianlin County, GuangxiLi Jinfang 锦芳 2006. Studies on endangered languages in the Southwest China 南地区濒危语言调查研究 Beijing: Minzu University.) is a Chinese linguist at Minzu University ...
,
Jerold A. Edmondson Jerold Alan Edmondson (born 1941) (Chinese name: 艾杰瑞 Aì Jiéruì) is an American linguist whose work spans four subdisciplines: historical and comparative linguistics, Asian linguistics, field linguistics, and phonetics. He is a leading spe ...
, Weera Ostapirat, and Zhang Jimin. The three varieties in Vietnam are not
mutually intelligible In linguistics, mutual intelligibility is a relationship between languages or dialects in which speakers of different but related varieties can readily understand each other without prior familiarity or special effort. It is sometimes used as an ...
, and three varieties in China may be distinct languages as well. ''
Ethnologue ''Ethnologue: Languages of the World'' (stylized as ''Ethnoloɠue'') is an annual reference publication in print and online that provides statistics and other information on the living languages of the world. It is the world's most comprehensiv ...
'' classifies Gelao as four languages, perhaps as closely related to the two Lachi languages as they are to each other.


Ostapirat (2000), Edmondson (2008)

Ostapirat (2000) proposed three major subdivisions for Gelao, with a total of 17 varieties.Ostapirat, Weera (2000).
Proto-Kra
. ''Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area'' 23 (1): 1-251
The Central and Southwestern branches shares various phonological innovations, suggesting an initial split with the Northern branch. Some varieties cited are also from Jerold A. Edmondson (2008). Edmondson also proposes that Red Gelao of the China-Vietnam border may in fact constitute a separate primary branch of Gelao. Central (Gao) *Wanzi 弯子寨, Anshun 安顺,
Guizhou Guizhou (; formerly Kweichow) is a landlocked province in the southwest region of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Guiyang, in the center of the province. Guizhou borders the autonomous region of Guangxi to t ...
(also spoken in Heizhai 黑寨) *Dagouchang 大狗场, Huolong 活龙乡, Pingba 平坝, Guizhou *Xinzhai 新寨, Baiyan 白岩乡, Puding 普定, Guizhou (also spoken in Wozi 窝子) *Sanchong (三冲村),
Longlin Longlin Various Nationalities (Gezu) Autonomous County () is an autonomous county, under the jurisdiction of the prefecture-level city of Baise, in the west of Guangxi, China, bordering Guizhou Province to the north. As of 2019, the county's pop ...
(隆林县),
Guangxi Guangxi (; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Kwanghsi; ; za, Gvangjsih, italics=yes), officially the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the People's Republic ...
*Green Gelao of Hoàng Su Phì, Vietnam Northern (Red Gelao) *Qiaoshang 桥上, Xiongjiazhai 熊家寨乡, Longchang 龙场区, Zhijin 织金, Guizhou *Bigong 比贡, Dingqi 丁旗乡, Zhenning 镇宁, Guizhou *Longli 龙里, Majiang 麻江, Guizhou (Zhang calls this dialect Mulao 木佬; autonym: ' 嘎窝); there are two dialects (Bo Wenze 2003): **Xiasi 下司 (in Longlizhai 龙里寨, etc.) and Longshan 龙山 (in Bamaozhai 芭茅寨 of Fuxing 复兴村, Huangtuzhai 黄土寨 of Wengpao 翁袍村, Bailazhai 白腊寨, etc.) of
Majiang County Majiang County () is a county of southeast-central Guizhou province, China. It is the westernmost county-level division of the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture (; Hmu language: ''Qee ...
**Lushan 炉山, Chongbaizhai 重摆寨 of Dafengdong 大风洞 (autonym: ' 类窝), and Pingliang 平良 of
Kaili City Kaili (, Hmu language: ''Kad Linx'') is a county-level city under the administration of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, in southeastern Guizhou province, People's Republic of China. It is the center of Miao culture, hosting more ...
; Chang'anjiang 长安江 of
Huangping County Huangping County (; Hmu: ''Wangx Zangx'') is a county in the east of Guizhou province, China. It is under the administration of the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture (; Hmu language: ...
*Longjia 龙家寨, Zhijin 织金, Guizhou Southwestern (
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
and
Green Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 Nanometre, nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by ...
Gelao) *Laozhai 老寨, Malipo 麻栗坡,
Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked Provinces of China, province in Southwest China, the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is ...
(related dialects spoken in Yueliangwan 月亮弯 of Yangwan township 杨万乡; Fengyan 峰岩 of Dongdu village 董度村; Chongba 铳八 of Donggan 董干乡) *Ban Ma Che, Đồng Văn,
Hà Giang Hà Giang () is a city located on the banks of the Lô River in the Northeast region of Vietnam. It is the capital of Hà Giang Province. The city has an area of 135.33 km2 and a population of 55 559 inhabitants. The population is compose ...
, Vietnam *White Gelao of
Hà Giang Province Hà is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as He in Chinese and Ha in Korean. Ha is the anglicized variation of the surname Hà. It is also the anglicized variation of Hạ. Notable people with the surname Hà *Hà Kiều Anh, Mis ...
: Đồng Vǎn, Hoàng Su Phì,
Quản Bạ Quản Bạ is a rural commune () of Quản Bạ District, Hà Giang Province, Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edg ...
, and
Mèo Vạc Mèo Vạc is a township () of Mèo Vạc District, Hà Giang Province, Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of m ...
districts *Red Gelao of Fanpo (翻坡),
Malipo Malipo County (, vi, Ma Lật Pha) is under the administration of the Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, in the southeast of Yunnan province, China, bordering Ha Giang Province to the southeast. Administrative divisions In the presen ...
(麻栗坡县),
Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked Provinces of China, province in Southwest China, the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is ...
(?) *Moji 摩/磨/么基, Longlin 隆林,
Guangxi Guangxi (; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Kwanghsi; ; za, Gvangjsih, italics=yes), officially the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the People's Republic ...
in 上冲 Shangchong and 下冲 Xiachong (< 400 speakers; near Dashuijing 大水井; related dialects in Wantao 弯桃 and Zhe'ai 者艾 of Yancha 岩茶乡) *Niupo 牛坡, Liuzhi 六枝, Guizhou (most populous; also spoken in Machang 马场镇 of Puding 普定县 and Agong 阿弓镇 of Zhijin 织金县; Judu 居都, Yanjiao 岩脚, Houzitian 猴子田, Langjiaba 郞家坝, and Duojiao 堕脚 of Liuzhi 六枝) *Datiezhai 打铁寨, Shuicheng 水城, Guizhou (also spoken in Gaoshi 高石 and Miluo 米箩) *Dingyinshao 定银哨, Zhenning 镇宁, Guizhou *Pudi 普底, Dafang 大方, Guizhou (also spoken in Hongfeng 红丰村) *Jianshan 尖山, Zunyi 遵义, Guizhou (also spoken in Pingzheng 平正, Zunyi along with Red and Green Gelao; fewer than 500 speakers) *Qinglong 青龙, Zunyi 遵义, Guizhou *Sanchong 三冲村, Longlin 隆林, Guangxi (grouped as Central by Shen Yumay and Jerold A. Edmondson)


Zhang (1993)

Zhang Jimin (1993) recognizes the following subdivisions of Gelao. *
Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
黔中方言 (10,000 speakers) **Dagouchang subdialect 平坝县大狗场土语: spoken in Wanzi 弯子 and Heizhai 黑寨 of Anshun City 安顺县; and Dagouchang 大狗场 and Wangzhai 王寨 of Pingba County 平坝县 (autonyms: ' in Anshun; ' or ' in Pingba). **Xinzhai subdialect 普定县新寨土语: spoken in Xinzhai 新寨, Wozi 窝子, Changchong 长冲, and Weiqi 未七 villages in Baiyan District 白岩区, Puding District 普定县 (autonym: '). **Xiongzhai subdialect 织金熊寨土语: spoken in Qiaoshang Village 桥上村, Xiongjiazhai Township 熊家寨乡, Longchang District 龙场区, Zhijin County 织金县. *North-Central 黔中北方言 (14,000 speakers) ** Subdialect 1: spoken in Yatang 亚塘, Maoba District 茅坝区, Renhuai City 仁怀县; and Shanbeihou Village 山背后村, Liangshui Township 凉水, Qinglong County; and Sanchong 三冲, Longlin County 隆林县, Guangxi (autonym: '). Also spoken by the Green Gelao 青仡佬 of Yangliu Village 杨柳村, Renhuai City 仁怀县 (autonym: '). ** Subdialect 2: spoken by the Red Gelao 红仡佬 of Banliwan 板栗湾, Maoba District 茅坝区, Renhuai City 仁怀县; and some villages of Pingzheng Township 平正乡, Zunyi County 遵义县 (autonym: ', where ' means 'people'), including in Tianba 田坝, Heijiaoyan 黑脚岩, Pingzheng Township. *
Southwestern The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each sepa ...
黔西南方言 (12,000 speakers) **Niupo subdialect 六枝牛破土语: spoken in Duoque 堕脚, Houzitian 猴子田, and Langjiaba 郎家坝 of Liuzhi Special District 六枝特区; Shangguan 上关 and Xiaguan 下关 in Yingpan Town 营盘镇, Machang District 马场区, Puding County 普定县 (elderly rememberers only); some villages in Agong District 阿弓区, Zhijin County 织金县. **Moji subdialect 隆林么基土语: spoken in Dashuijing 大水井, Longlin County 隆林县, Guangxi and other nearby villages. 400 speakers. **Laozhai subdialect 麻栗坡县老寨土语: spoken in Laozhai 老寨 and Yueliangwan 月亮湾 in Tiechang District 铁厂区, Malipo County 麻栗坡县 **Datiezhai subdialect 水城大铁寨土语: spoken in Gaoshi Township 高石乡, Yangmei District 杨梅区 and Ega Township 俄嘎乡, Miluo District 米箩区, Shuicheng County 水城特区 (elderly rememberers only). **Jianshan subdialect 遵义尖山土语: spoken in Jianshan 尖山, Pingzheng Township 平正乡, Zunyi County 遵义县. Under 500 speakers. *
Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
黔西方言 (15,000 speakers) **Pudi subdialect 大方县普底土语: spoken in Hongfeng Village 红丰村, Pudi Township 普底乡, Dafang County (autonym: '); Lannigou 滥泥沟, Shajing Township 沙井乡, Qianxi County; a few villages in Daguan District 大观区, Qianxi County; Dazhai 大寨 and Gaokanzhai 高坎寨 in Fenghuang Village 凤凰村, Xinfa Township 新发乡, Qingzhen City; Maixiang 麦巷 and Houzhai 后寨 townships, Qingzhen City **Bigong subdialect 镇宁比贡土语: spoken in Bigong Village 比贡村 and Maocao 茅草 in Mafang Township 新房乡, Anxi District 安西区, Zhenning County 镇宁县 (autonym: ')


Bradley (2007), He (1983)

The ''Encyclopedia of the World's Endangered Languages'' (2007), based on information from He (1983), groups Gelao into five subdivisions.Bradley, David. 2007. "East and Southeast Asia." In Moseley, Christopher (ed). ''Encyclopedia of the World's Endangered Languages''. New York: Routledge. * Hakhi (哈给 Hagei, ', Green Gelao): west-central
Guizhou Guizhou (; formerly Kweichow) is a landlocked province in the southwest region of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Guiyang, in the center of the province. Guizhou borders the autonomous region of Guangxi to t ...
, western
Guangxi Guangxi (; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Kwanghsi; ; za, Gvangjsih, italics=yes), officially the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the People's Republic ...
, southeastern
Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked Provinces of China, province in Southwest China, the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is ...
, northern
Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
- including Yangliu (杨柳) variety in
Renhuai County Renhuai () is a county-level city located in the north of Guizhou province, China, bordering Sichuan province to the west. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Zunyi. The city is served by Zunyi Maotai Airport Zunyi M ...
; southwestern Gelao of Sanchong (三冲) and Qinglong (青龙). Hagei varieties are also spoken in Ma'ao (麻凹村), Guanling County (关岭县), Pomao (坡帽) in Zhenfeng County (贞丰县), and Pingzheng Gelao Village (平正仡佬族乡),
Zunyi Zunyi () is a prefecture-level city in northern Guizhou province, People's Republic of China, situated between the provincial capital Guiyang to the south and Chongqing to the north, also bordering Sichuan to the northwest. Along with Guiyang an ...
(遵义). Estimated by Jiashan He (1983) at 1,700 speakers. He (1983) also lists Anliang 安良 and Taiyang 太阳 of Renhuai 仁怀县, Huajiangzhen 花江镇 and Ma'ao 麻垇 of Zhenning 镇宁县, Dingying 顶营 of Guanling 关岭县, Maixiang 麦巷 near Qingzhen 清镇, and Liangshuiying 凉水营 of Qinglong 晴隆县 as Hagei-speaking places. * Tolo (多罗 Duoluo, ', White Gelao): west-central
Guizhou Guizhou (; formerly Kweichow) is a landlocked province in the southwest region of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Guiyang, in the center of the province. Guizhou borders the autonomous region of Guangxi to t ...
, western
Guangxi Guangxi (; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Kwanghsi; ; za, Gvangjsih, italics=yes), officially the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the People's Republic ...
, southeastern
Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked Provinces of China, province in Southwest China, the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is ...
, northern
Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
; all other southwestern Gelao varieties. The Niupo variety is also spoken in Machang village (马场镇),
Puding County Puding County () is a county in west-central Guizhou province, China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Anshun. Etymology The name "Puding" () can be traced back to the Mongolian-rule Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), ...
(普定县), Anshun, as well as Agong village (阿弓镇),
Zhijin County Zhijin County is a county under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Bijie in west-central Guizhou province, China. History Zhijin has been inhabited since the Qin, populated mainly by the Gelao. After the Jin, the Yi move ...
(织金县), Bijie. The Datiezhai variety is spoken in Gaoshi (高石) of Shuicheng (水城) and Miluo (米箩) of Shuicheng (水城). Estimated by Jiashan He (1983) at 1,200 speakers. * A-uo (阿欧 A'ou/Ao, Red Gelao): west-central
Guizhou Guizhou (; formerly Kweichow) is a landlocked province in the southwest region of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Guiyang, in the center of the province. Guizhou borders the autonomous region of Guangxi to t ...
, western
Guangxi Guangxi (; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Kwanghsi; ; za, Gvangjsih, italics=yes), officially the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the People's Republic ...
, southeastern
Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked Provinces of China, province in Southwest China, the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is ...
, northern
Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
- including Banli (板栗湾) variety in
Renhuai County Renhuai () is a county-level city located in the north of Guizhou province, China, bordering Sichuan province to the west. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Zunyi. The city is served by Zunyi Maotai Airport Zunyi M ...
; all northern Gelao varieties, as well as southwestern Gelao of Puding County (普定县) and Maocaozhai (茅草寨), Zhijin County (织金县). Estimated by Jiashan He (1983) at 1,500 speakers. He (1983) also lists Shawo 沙窝, Xinkaitian 新开田, Lannigou 滥泥沟 (all in Qianxi 黔西县) as A'ou-speaking places. * Aqao (稿 Gao): west-central
Guizhou Guizhou (; formerly Kweichow) is a landlocked province in the southwest region of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Guiyang, in the center of the province. Guizhou borders the autonomous region of Guangxi to t ...
; all central Gelao varieties. Estimated by Jiashan He (1983) at 2,000 speakers. He (1983) also listed Dongkou 洞口 of Shuicheng 水城县 and Niudong 牛洞 of Zhijin 织金县 as Gao-speaking places. * Qaw:
Gulin County Gulin County ()is a county in the south of Sichuan Province, China, bordering Guizhou Guizhou (; formerly Kweichow) is a landlocked province in the southwest region of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Guiya ...
(古蔺县),
Sichuan Sichuan (; zh, c=, labels=no, ; zh, p=Sìchuān; alternatively romanized as Szechuan or Szechwan; formerly also referred to as "West China" or "Western China" by Protestant missions) is a province in Southwest China occupying most of the ...
; mostly unattested. This dialect is spoken by the Yi ( 羿人), who are the least-known Gelao subgroup. The most extensively studied varieties are the Wanzi and Zhenfeng dialects, while the most endangered one is Red Gelao.


Zhou (2004)

Zhou (2004) lists four dialects of Gelao. * Hagei (哈给): Autonyms include ' (布哈给) and ' (布目亨). Primarily spoken in Renhuai, Zhenning, Guanling, Qinglong, Zhenfeng, and Longlin Counties. **Pomao 坡帽村, Zhenfeng 贞丰县 * Duoluo (多罗): Autonyms include ' and '. Primarily spoken in Liuzhi District, Puding, Longlin, and Malipo Counties. **Qingkou 箐口彝族仡佬族布依族乡, Liuzhi 六枝特区 **Machang 马场寨, Puding (extinct) **Mengzhou 猛舟村, Puding (extinct) *
Gao Gao , or Gawgaw/Kawkaw, is a city in Mali and the capital of the Gao Region. The city is located on the River Niger, east-southeast of Timbuktu on the left bank at the junction with the Tilemsi valley. For much of its history Gao was an impor ...
(稿): Autonyms include ', ' (in Dongkou 垌口村, Houchang Township 猴场乡), and '. Primarily spoken in Pingba, Anshun, Puding, and Shuicheng Counties. Its 4 dialects are Dagouchang 大狗场 of Pingba, Xinzhai 新寨 of Puding, Dongkou 洞口 of Shuicheng, and Xiongzhai 熊寨 of Zhijin (extinct). **Dongkou 垌口村, Houchang 猴场乡, Shuicheng 水城县 **Shuangkeng 双坑村, Puding * A'ou (阿欧): Autonyms include ' (阿欧), ' (补欧, 补尔), and ' (柔勒). Small pockets of speakers left in Zhenning, Dafang, and Qianxi Counties. Its three dialects are Bigong, Hongfeng, and Jianshan. **Shajing 沙井苗族彝族仡佬族乡: Tiele 铁乐村, Dengming 灯明村, Huangni 黄泥村 **Huashi 化石, Qianxi **Yang'er 羊儿, Qianxi **Longjia 龙家寨, Zhijin **Mengjia 猛架, Puding **Weicheng 卫城镇, Qingzhen 清镇市 **Maixiang 麦巷村, Qingzhen 清镇市 **Pingzheng 平正仡佬族乡 (some villages, including Shibanshang 石板上, also called Jianshan 尖山) **Bayang 坝养, Puding (extinct)


Wei (2008)

Wei Mingying (2008:45)Wei Mingying 名应 2008. A reclassification of Gelao dialects 佬语方言土语再划分 M.A. dissertation. Beijing: Minzu University. classifies the Gelao dialects as follows. * Duoluo 多罗 **Vietnam White Gelao 越白 **Yueliangwan 月亮湾, Laozhai 老寨 **Judu 居都, Moji 磨基, Wantao 湾桃 *
Gao Gao , or Gawgaw/Kawkaw, is a city in Mali and the capital of the Gao Region. The city is located on the River Niger, east-southeast of Timbuktu on the left bank at the junction with the Tilemsi valley. For much of its history Gao was an impor ...
稿 **Dongkou 洞口, Datiezhai 打铁寨 **Xinzhai 新寨 **Wanzi 湾子, Dagouchang 大狗场 * Hagei 哈给 **Sanchong 三冲, Shanbeihou 山背后, Ma'ao 麻垇, Pomao 坡帽, Yangliu 杨柳, Tianba 田坝, Vietnam Green Gelao 越青 * A'ou 阿欧 **Banliwan 板栗湾 **Jianshan 尖山, Malipo Red Gelao 麻红, Vietnam Red Gelao 越红 **Hongfeng 红丰, Maixiang 麦巷, Longjiazhai 龙家寨, Houzitian 猴子田 **Qiaoshang 桥上, Longli 龙里 Wei (2008: 39-40) classifies the A'ou (Red Gelao) dialects as follows. ; A'ou 阿欧方言 *Lectal area 1 第一次方言 **Longjiazhai-Houzitian dialect 龙家寨、猴子田土语 *Lectal area 2 第二次方言 **Qiaoshang dialect 桥上土语 **Longli dialect 龙里土语 **Bigong dialect 比贡土语 *Lectal area 3 第三次方言 **Jianshan dialect 尖山土语 **Banliwan dialect 板栗湾土语 Wei (2008: 39) considers Houzitian 猴子田 Red Gelao to be most closely related to the Gelao variety of Longjiazhai 龙家寨, northern
Zhijin County Zhijin County is a county under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Bijie in west-central Guizhou province, China. History Zhijin has been inhabited since the Qin, populated mainly by the Gelao. After the Jin, the Yi move ...
. There are only about 10 ethnic Gelao households in Houzitian. The Gelao speakers of "Donie" ' village, Aga Township 阿嘎乡, Shuicheng County 水城县 originally migrated from Houzitian several decades ago; there are only a few elderly rememberers of that variety left.


Hsiu (2013)

Andrew Hsiu (2013) classifies the Gelao dialects as follows. *Red Gelao **Border (“ Vandu”) ***''Malipo'' 麻栗坡 (''Uwei'') ***Hà Giang: ''Vandu'', ''Wandei'' ***Renhuai: ''Banliwan'' 板栗湾, ''Jianshan'' 尖山 **
Core Core or cores may refer to: Science and technology * Core (anatomy), everything except the appendages * Core (manufacturing), used in casting and molding * Core (optical fiber), the signal-carrying portion of an optical fiber * Core, the central ...
(Proto-Kra retroflex > spirant innovation) ***''Bigong'' 比贡 ***''Hongfeng'' 红丰, ''Shajing'' 沙井 ***''Houzitian'' 猴子田 ***Zhijin: ''Qiaoshang'' 桥上, ''Longchang'' 龙场 ***'' Mulao'' ***'' Yiren'' 羿人 * White Gelao **Core ***''Judu'' 居都 ***''Moji'' 磨基, ''Wantao'' 湾桃 **Border: ''Yueliangwan'' 月亮湾, ''Fengyan'' 峰岩, ''Laozhai'' 老寨, ''Vietnam White Gelao'' *Central Gelao ** Hakei ***Guanling-Qinglong cluster: ''Ma'ao'' 麻垇, etc. ***''Pomao'' 坡帽 ** Qau ***''Dagouchang'' 大狗场 ***''Wanzi'' 湾子 ***''Xinzhai'' 新寨 ***''Dongkou'' 洞口


Phonology

Many Gelao varieties, such as Telue and Vandu, have many
uvular Uvulars are consonants articulated with the back of the tongue against or near the uvula, that is, further back in the mouth than velar consonants. Uvulars may be stops, fricatives, nasals, trills, or approximants, though the IPA does not provid ...
and
prenasalized consonant Prenasalized consonants are phonetic sequences of a nasal and an obstruent (or occasionally a non-nasal sonorant such as ) that behave phonologically like single consonants. The primary reason for considering them to be single consonants, rathe ...
s. Many varieties also preserve
consonant cluster In linguistics, a consonant cluster, consonant sequence or consonant compound, is a group of consonants which have no intervening vowel. In English, for example, the groups and are consonant clusters in the word ''splits''. In the education fie ...
s that have been lost in most other related languages. These consonant clusters, such as , correspond regularly with consonants in Lachi, Mulao, Qabiao (Pubiao), Buyang, and various Kam–Tai languages. Gelao also shares many phonological features with Bouyei and other neighboring non-Kra languages.


Tones

Gelao varieties are tonal. Tones can include level tones (' and '), rising tones (' and '), and falling tones (' and ').


Comparisons

Sound correspondences between the
Liuzhi Liuzhi Special District () is a district of Guizhou, China. It was known as Langdai Country before 1960. The county is under the administration of Liupanshui Liupanshui () is a city in western Guizhou province, People's Republic of China. The na ...
(六枝) and Zhenfeng (贞丰) varieties include: iuzhi : Zhenfeng * : * : * : * : * : or * : or


Grammar

Like all of its surrounding languages, Gelao is a head-first, SVO language. Like Buyang, one unusual feature of Gelao is that negatives usually come at the end of a sentence.
Reduplication In linguistics, reduplication is a morphological process in which the root or stem of a word (or part of it) or even the whole word is repeated exactly or with a slight change. The classic observation on the semantics of reduplication is Edwa ...
is very common and is used for diminutive or repetitive purposes. Other common features include the use of serial verb constructions and compound nouns. Although numerals and classifiers precede nouns, adjectives (including
demonstrative Demonstratives (abbreviated ) are words, such as ''this'' and ''that'', used to indicate which entities are being referred to and to distinguish those entities from others. They are typically deictic; their meaning depending on a particular frame ...
s) always follow the noun. Function words, such as
preposition Prepositions and postpositions, together called adpositions (or broadly, in traditional grammar, simply prepositions), are a class of words used to express spatial or temporal relations (''in'', ''under'', ''towards'', ''before'') or mark various ...
s and auxiliary words, are often derived from verbs. Like Buyang and Dong, Gelao retains many prefixes that have been lost in most other
Kra–Dai languages The Kra–Dai languages (also known as Tai–Kadai and Daic) are a language family in Mainland Southeast Asia, Southern China and Northeast India. All languages in the family are tonal languages, including Thai and Lao, the national languages o ...
. Zhang (1993:300) notes that the Moji (磨基) Longlin dialect of White Gelao makes especially extensive use of prefixing syllables before nouns, verbs, and adjectives.张済民/Zhang, Jimin. 仡佬语研究/Gelao yu yan jiu (A Study of Gelao). 贵阳市/Guiyang, China: 贵州民族出版社/Guizhou min zu chu ban she, 1993. These prefixes are especially important for reconstruction purposes. Many words in Gelao are derived from vernacular
Southwest Mandarin Southwestern Mandarin (), also known as Upper Yangtze Mandarin (), is a Mandarin Chinese language spoken in much of Southwest China, including in Sichuan, Yunnan, Chongqing, Guizhou, most parts of Hubei, the northwestern part of Hunan, the northe ...
Chinese. These loanwords are often used interchangeably with native Gelao words. There is also a highly rich system of classifiers. Gelao also has a rich set of pronouns not attested in other Kra–Dai languages. There are also pronouns referring to one's household in particular.


Manuscripts

In Guizhou, there are several manuscripts that have word lists of Gelao varieties written using Chinese characters. In 2009, a book allegedly written in a native Gelao script was found in
Guizhou Guizhou (; formerly Kweichow) is a landlocked province in the southwest region of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Guiyang, in the center of the province. Guizhou borders the autonomous region of Guangxi to t ...
, China, but scholarship reveals it is certainly fake.Adam D. Smith
Fake Gelao 仡佬 writing system and manuscript
, LingQiBaSui 零七八碎, 29 November 2013.


References


Further reading

* Zhang Jimin 张済民. 1993. ''Gelao yu yan jiu 仡佬语研究 (A study of Gelao)''. Guiyang, China: Guizhou People's Press 贵州民族出版社. * He Jiashan 贺嘉善. 1983. ''Gelao yu jian zhi 仡佬语简志 (A sketch of Gelao)''. Beijing: Ethnic Publishing House 民族出版社. * Ryūichi Kosaka, Guoyan Zhou, Jinfang Li. 仡央语言词汇集/Geyang yu yan ci hui ji. 贵阳市/Guiyang, China: 贵州民族出版社/Guizhou min zu chu ban she, 1998. * 李锦芳/Li, Jinfang and 周国炎/Guoyan Zhou. 仡央语言探索/Geyang yu yan tan suo. Beijing, China: 中央民族大学出版社/Zhong yang min zu da xue chu ban she, 1999. *Li Jinfang 锦芳 2006. ''Studies on endangered languages in the Southwest China'' 南地区濒危语言调查研究 Beijing: Minzu University 央民族大学出版社 * Zhou Guoyan 周国炎. 2004. ''Gelao zu mu yu sheng tai yan jiu 仡佬族母語生态硏究 (Studies on the linguistic ecology of the Gelao people)''. Beijing: Ethnic Publishing House 民族出版社. * Ostapirat, Weera (2000).
Proto-Kra
. ''Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area'' 23 (1): 1-251 * Shen Yumay. 2003.
Phonology of Sanchong Gelao
'. M.A. Thesis, University of Texas at Arlington. * Edmondson, J. A., & Solnit, D. B. (1988). ''Comparative Kadai: linguistic studies beyond Tai''. Summer Institute of Linguistics publications in linguistics, no. 86. rlington, Tex. Summer Institute of Linguistics. * Diller, Anthony, Jerold A. Edmondson, and Yongxian Luo ed. ''The Tai–Kadai Languages''. Routledge Language Family Series. Psychology Press, 2008. * Li Xia; Li Jinfang; Luo Yongxian. 2014.
A Grammar of Zoulei, Southwest China
'. Bern: Peter Lang AG, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften. * Samarina, Irina Vladimirovna амарина, Ирина Владимировна 2011. ''The Gelao language: materials for a Kadai comparative dictionary'' зыки гэлао: материалы к сопоставительному словарю кадайских языко Moscow: Academia. * Luo Changmu 长木 2009. ''Pingzheng Gelao language'' 正仡佬语 Pingzheng, Guizhou: Pingzheng Township Government. (Hagei Gelao dialect spoken in Tianba village 田坝村, Pingzheng Township 平正仡佬族乡. Gelao transcribed in pinyin.) * Chen Xing 2013. ''Gelaoyu hanzi jinyin shidu daquan'' 佬语汉字近音识读大全 Beijing: Chinese History Press 国文史出版社 * Chen Zhengjun 正军 2003. ''Guizhou Mulaozu lishi wenhua'' 州仫佬族历史文化 Guiyang: Guizhou People's Press 州民族出版社
仡佬语研究









External links


Gelao-language Swadesh vocabulary list of basic words
(from Wiktionary'
Swadesh-list appendix



Bible recordings in Huangniu (黄扭) Longlin Gelao
(also known as Sanchong Gelao, Hagei, Green Gelao)
ztgl.net

Chinese papers on Gelao
*https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233535/http://cema.gov.vn/modules.php?name=Content&op=details&mid=497
ELAR archive of Documentation of Two Gelao Varieties: Zou Lei and A Hou, South West China
Word lists
ABVD: Gelao (Niupo) word list

ABVD: Gelao (Judu) word list

ABVD: Gelao (Hongfeng) word list

ABVD: Gelao (Zhenfeng) word list

ABVD: Gelao (Wanzi) word list

ABVD: Gelao (Sanchong) word list
{{Tai-Kadai languages Languages of China Languages of Vietnam Kra languages L