Nasu (Naisu, Eastern Yi), or Nasu proper, is a
Loloish language
The Loloish languages, also known as Yi in China and occasionally Ngwi or Nisoic, are a family of fifty to a hundred Sino-Tibetan languages spoken primarily in the Yunnan province of China. They are most closely related to Burmese and its relat ...
spoken by a quarter million
Yi people
The Yi or Nuosu people,; zh, c=彝族, p=Yízú, l=Yi ethnicity historically known as the Lolo,; vi, Lô Lô; th, โล-โล, Lo-Lo are an ethnic group
An ethnic group or an ethnicity is a grouping of people who identify with eac ...
of
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 ...
. Nasu proper and Wusa Nasu are two of six
Yi languages
The Yi or Nuosu people,; zh, c=彝族, p=Yízú, l=Yi ethnicity historically known as the Lolo,; vi, Lô Lô; th, โล-โล, Lo-Lo are an ethnic group in China, Vietnam, and Thailand. Numbering nine million people, they are the s ...
recognized by
the government of China. Unlike most written Yi languages, Nasu proper uses the
Pollard (Miao) script. A distinct form of the
Yi script
The Yi script (Yi: ; ) is an umbrella term for two scripts used to write the Yi languages; Classical Yi (an ideogram script), and the later Yi Syllabary. The script is historically known in Chinese as ''Cuan Wen'' () or ''Wei Shu'' () and vari ...
was traditionally used for Wusa, though few can still read it.
Names
According to the ''Guizhou Ethnic Gazetteer'' (2002),
[Guizhou Province Gazetteer: Ethnic Gazetteer 州省志. 民族志(2002). Guiyang: Guizhou Ethnic Publishing House 州民族出版社] Yi autonyms include Nasu 哪苏, Tusu 兔苏, Lagou 腊勾, Guo 果, and so forth.
Most of Yi people of the Luquan area do not have the autonym Luoluo and Nasu (transliterated into Chinese as 纳苏) means "black", hence the Black Yi (黑彝 Hei Yi), though Black Yi is an aristocratic
caste
Caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultura ...
distinction among the Yi People, and Black Yi Script (Heiyiwen) was a Latin script for Yi introduced by missionaries.
Classification
Chen (1985)
Chen, et al. (1985:108) recognizes 3 major
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 ''Eastern Yi'' (i.e., Nasu) that are spoken in
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 ...
and
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 ...
provinces, namely ''Dianqian'' 滇黔 (Yunnan-Guizhou), ''Pan'' 盘县 (
Pan County
Panzhou () is a county-level city in southwestern Guizhou province, China, on the border with Yunnan province to the west. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Liupanshui.
Administrative divisions
As of 2017, Panzhou is ...
of
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 ...
), and ''Diandongbei'' 滇东北 (Northeastern Yunnan).
Autonyms include ' (alternatively '), ' (including ', ', and '), ', and '.
*Dianqian 滇黔次方言: 4 dialects
**Shuixi 水西土语: spoken in
Bijie
Bijie () is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Guizhou Province, China, bordering Sichuan to the north and Yunnan to the west.
The Daotianhe Reservoir, located to the north of the town was commissioned in 1965 with a rated annual capacity o ...
,
Qianxi,
Dafang
Dafang (), called Dading () until 1958, is a county of 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 p ...
,
Zhijin
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 moved i ...
,
Nayong,
Qingzhen, and
Zhenxiong
Zhenxiong County () is a county in the northeast of Yunnan province, China, under the administration of Zhaotong prefecture and bordering Guizhou and Sichuan.
Geography
Zhengxiong County is located in the northeastern part of Yunnan province. It h ...
counties
**Wusa 乌撒土语 (): spoken in
Weining,
Shuicheng
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 ...
,
Hezhang
Hezhang () is a county in the northwest of Guizhou province, China, bordering Yunnan to the north. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Bijie.
Ethnic groups
The ''Hezhang County Gazetteer'' (2001:105-108) lists the follow ...
,
Nayong, Yiliang,
Huize
Huize County (, old name: ''Dongchuan 東川'') is a county-level city, under the jurisdiction of Qujing City, Yunnan province, People's Republic of China.
Demography
The city has grown considerably over the past 20 years. It has 871,200 inhabi ...
, and
Xuanwei
Xuanwei () is a county-level city in the northeast of Yunnan Province, China, bordering Guizhou province to the east. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Qujing.
Administrative divisions
Xuanwei City has 9 subdistrict ...
counties
**Mangbu 芒部土语: spoken in
Zhenxiong
Zhenxiong County () is a county in the northeast of Yunnan province, China, under the administration of Zhaotong prefecture and bordering Guizhou and Sichuan.
Geography
Zhengxiong County is located in the northeastern part of Yunnan province. It h ...
and
Hezhang
Hezhang () is a county in the northwest of Guizhou province, China, bordering Yunnan to the north. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Bijie.
Ethnic groups
The ''Hezhang County Gazetteer'' (2001:105-108) lists the follow ...
counties
**Wumeng 乌蒙土语 (): spoken in
Zhaotong
Zhaotong () is a prefecture-level city located in the northeast corner of Yunnan province, China, bordering the provinces of Guizhou to the south and southeast and Sichuan to the northeast, north, and west.
History
Zhaotong has historic and ...
and
Yongshan
*Pan 盘县次方言: spoken in
Xingren
Xingren () is a county-level city of southwestern Guizhou province, China. It is under the administration of the Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.
Geography and climate
Due to its low latitude and elevation above , Xingren has a mons ...
,
Pu'an,
Qinglong,
Shuicheng
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 ...
,
Fuyuan, and
Luoping counties
*Diandongbei 滇东北次方言: 5 dialects
**Luquan 武禄土语: spoken in
Wuding
Wuding County (; Chuxiong Yi script: , IPA: ) is under the administration of the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in the north-central part of Yunnan province, China, bordering Sichuan province to the north. Wuding's county seat is located on ...
,
Luquan,
Yuanmou
Yuanmou County (; Chuxiong Yi script: , IPA: ) is under the administration of the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in the north of Yunnan province, China, bordering Sichuan province to the north.
The famous Yuanmou Man was found in Yuanmou Cou ...
,
Xundian,
Lufeng, and
Huize
Huize County (, old name: ''Dongchuan 東川'') is a county-level city, under the jurisdiction of Qujing City, Yunnan province, People's Republic of China.
Demography
The city has grown considerably over the past 20 years. It has 871,200 inhabi ...
counties
**Qiaowu 巧武土语 (''Qiaojia-Wuding''): spoken in
Qiaojia,
Wuding
Wuding County (; Chuxiong Yi script: , IPA: ) is under the administration of the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in the north-central part of Yunnan province, China, bordering Sichuan province to the north. Wuding's county seat is located on ...
,
Luquan,
Yuanmou
Yuanmou County (; Chuxiong Yi script: , IPA: ) is under the administration of the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in the north of Yunnan province, China, bordering Sichuan province to the north.
The famous Yuanmou Man was found in Yuanmou Cou ...
, and
Huize
Huize County (, old name: ''Dongchuan 東川'') is a county-level city, under the jurisdiction of Qujing City, Yunnan province, People's Republic of China.
Demography
The city has grown considerably over the past 20 years. It has 871,200 inhabi ...
counties
**Wuding 武定土语: spoken in
Wuding
Wuding County (; Chuxiong Yi script: , IPA: ) is under the administration of the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in the north-central part of Yunnan province, China, bordering Sichuan province to the north. Wuding's county seat is located on ...
,
Yongren, and
Lufeng counties
**Xundian 寻甸土语: spoken in
Xundian,
Luquan,
Huize
Huize County (, old name: ''Dongchuan 東川'') is a county-level city, under the jurisdiction of Qujing City, Yunnan province, People's Republic of China.
Demography
The city has grown considerably over the past 20 years. It has 871,200 inhabi ...
,
Songming
Songming County () is a county under the jurisdiction of Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, China. It is famous for the Yanglin Fat Liquor and the Dian Opera.
Administrative divisions
Songming County is divided into two subdistricts and th ...
,
Luxi,
Shizong,
Luoping, and
Mile
The mile, sometimes the international mile or statute mile to distinguish it from other miles, is a British imperial unit and United States customary unit of distance; both are based on the older English unit of length equal to 5,280 English ...
counties
**Kun'an 昆安土语 (''Kunming-Anning''): spoken in
Anning Anning may refer to:
Places
*Anning, Yunnan (安宁市) city, China
*Anning District
Anning District () is one of 5 districts of the prefecture-level city of Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province, Northwest China. It forms part of the urban core ...
and
Lufeng counties
Huang (1993)
In his description of the
Yi script
The Yi script (Yi: ; ) is an umbrella term for two scripts used to write the Yi languages; Classical Yi (an ideogram script), and the later Yi Syllabary. The script is historically known in Chinese as ''Cuan Wen'' () or ''Wei Shu'' () and vari ...
(not the spoken language), Huáng Jiànmíng (1993) holds that the Nasu variety of the Yi script is used by the groups speaking languages of the Nasu language cluster of
Northern Yi
Nuosu or Nosu (, transcribed as ), also known as Northern Yi, Liangshan Yi, and Sichuan Yi, is the prestige language of the Yi people; it has been chosen by the Chinese government as the standard Yi language () and, as such, is the only one taug ...
in south-eastern
Sìchuān
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 ...
, eastern
Yúnnán,
Gùizhōu, as well as in
Guǎngxī. He distinguishes two sub-groups. Nasu proper used in
Wuding
Wuding County (; Chuxiong Yi script: , IPA: ) is under the administration of the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in the north-central part of Yunnan province, China, bordering Sichuan province to the north. Wuding's county seat is located on ...
,
Luquan, and the suburbs of
Kunming
Kunming (; ), also known as Yunnan-Fu, is the capital and largest city of Yunnan province, China. It is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of the province as well as the seat of the provincial government. The headquar ...
, and Wusa used in Guizhou and the bordering areas of Eastern Yunnan.
Bradley (1997)
David Bradley (1997) distinguishes three main dialects of Nasu:
*Southeastern (Panxian): 150,000 speakers in southwestern Guizhou
*Northeastern (Nesu): 300,000 speakers, comprising most of the other Nasu speakers of Guizhou, and some in extreme northeastern Yunnan and southeastern Sichuan
**Shuixi subdialect 水西土语
**Wusa subdialect 乌撒土语
**Mangbu subdialect 芒部土语
**Wumeng subdialect 乌蒙土语
*Western (Nasu proper): 250,000 speakers all in north-central Yunnan; Black (more numerous) and Red subdialects
Lama (2012)
Lama (2012) determined that Nasu (Western) is more closely related to
Gepo than it is to the others:
*Nesu
**Panxian (Nasepho, '): North and South dialects
**Shuixi Nesu (Dafang Nesu)
**Nesu proper
***Wumeng
***Mangbu
***Wusa (Wusa Nasu)
*Nasu
**Nasu proper
**
Gepo ('): 100,000 speakers
Chen (2010)
Phonology
Consonants
* The phonetic sound of // is mainly heard as .
Vowels
* Sounds are heard as syllabic consonants when following alveolar sounds , and as syllabic retroflex when following retroflex sounds .
*The phonetic sounds of the rhoticized vowels are mainly heard as more back .
Tones
3 tones occur as follows:
References
Bibliography
*Bradley, David (1997).
Tibeto-Burman languages and classification. In ''Tibeto-Burman languages of the Himalayas, Papers in South East Asian linguistics''. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.
*Chen Kang
康 2010. ''A study of Yi dialects''
语方言研究 Beijing: China Minzu University Press.
*Lama, Ziwo Qiu-Fuyuan (2012), ''Subgrouping of Nisoic (Yi) Languages'', thesis, University of Texas at Arlington.
*Lu Lin 卢琳. 2017. Yiyu Shuicheng Zhichanghua yanjiu 彝语水城纸厂话研究. In ''Guizhou Minzu Yanjiu'' 贵州民族研究.
External links
283-word wordlist in Wuding Maojie Naisu dialectavailable from
Kaipuleohone Kaipuleohone is a digital ethnographic archive that houses audio and visual files, photographs, as well as hundreds of textual material such as notes, dictionaries, and transcriptions relating to small and endangered languages. The archive is stored ...
as well a
word lists from other Nasu speakers
{{Lolo-Burmese languages
Loloish languages
Languages of China