Lizu (; Western Ersu) is a
Qiangic language
Qiangic (''Ch'iang, Kyang, Tsiang'', Chinese: 羌語支, "''Qiang'' language group"; formerly known as Dzorgaic) is a group of related languages within the Sino-Tibetan language family. They are spoken mainly in Southwest China, including Sichua ...
spoken in Western
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 th ...
, China. There are 4,000 speakers according to Sun (1982) and 7,000 speakers according to Chirkova (2008). Muli, where Lizu is spoken, is a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual county and Lizu has been historically influenced by Mandarin Chinese.
Varieties
Yu (2009: 2) lists the following varieties of Lizu:
*Mianning Lizu: spoken in Lagusa 拉姑萨 Village (Lizu name `wontʂʰɨ `lombɑ), He’ai (“Hoŋai”) 和爱 Township, Mianning 冕宁 County, Liangshan 凉山 Prefecture. Documented by Yu (2012).
*Kala Lizu: spoken in Kala 卡拉 Township, Muli 木里 County, Liangshan Prefecture. Documented by Chirkova (2008); Huáng and Rénzēng (1991); and Dài and Huáng (1992).
*Naiqu Lizu: spoken in Naiqu 乃渠 Village, Naiqu Township, Jiulong 九龙 County, Garzê (Gānzī 甘孜) Prefecture. Documented by Ikeda (2009).
References
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External links
* ELAR archive o
Lizu language documentation materials
{{Languages of China
Qiangic languages
Languages of China