Nuosu | |
---|---|
Northern Yi, Liangshan Yi, Sichuan Yi | |
ꆈꌠꉙ Nuosuhxop | |
Native to | China |
Region | Southern Sichuan, northern Yunnan |
Ethnicity | Yi |
Native speakers | 2 million (2000 census)[1] |
Standard forms |
|
Yi syllabary, formerly Yi logograms | |
Official status | |
Recognised minority language in | ![]() |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-1 | ii Sichuan Yi, Nuosu |
ISO 639-2 | iii Sichuan Yi, Nuosu |
ISO 639-3 | iii Nuosu, Sichuan Yi |
Glottolog | sich1238 Sichuan Yi |
Nuosu or Nosu (ꆈꌠꉙ, transcribed as Nuo su hxop), 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 (Chinese: 彝语) and, as such, is the only one taught in schools, both in its oral and written forms. It was spoken by two million people and was increasing (as of PRC census); 60% were monolingual (1994 estimate). Nuosu is the native Nuosu name for their own language and is not used in Mandarin Chinese, though it may sometimes be translated as Nuòsūyǔ (simplified Chinese: 诺苏语; traditional Chinese: 諾蘇語).[2]
The occasional terms "Black Yi" (黑彝; hēi Yí) and 'White Yi' (白彝; bái Yí) are castes of the Nuosu people, not dialects.[citation needed]
Nuosu is one of several often mutually unintelligible varieties known as Yi, Lolo, Moso, or Noso; the six Yi languages recognized by the Chinese government hold only 25% to 50% of their vocabulary in common. They share a common traditional writing system, though this is used for shamanism rather than daily accounting.[citation needed]