Limi (

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 ...

: ') is a Loloish language spoken in Yongde, Fengqing, and Yun counties of western

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 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the ...

province, China.

Distribution

Limi is spoken in the following locations. * Yongde County (Wumulong 乌木龙彝族乡 and Yalian 亚练乡 Townships) *Southern Guodazhai Township 郭大寨彝族白族乡, Fengqing County (pop. 4,000) *Southeastern Yingpan Township 营盘镇, Fengqing County * Yun County (pop. 1,000) Yang (2017) reports that Limi is spoken by about 20,000 people in Yongde, Fengqing, and Yun counties. Limi speakers make up 70% of the 26,000 people living in Wumulong Township (乌木龙乡), Yongde County, Yunnan. About 2,600 members of a nearby ethnic group called "Luo" (倮族) (likely Lolopo) also live in and around Wumulong.

Classification

Limi is likely most closely related to Lolopo, but also has many Lalo loanwords.

History

Limi speakers likely migrated from Jingdong County during the early 1300s, first arriving in Bangmai Village (邦卖/班卖), Fengqing County, and then later migrating to Wumulong Township, Yongde County.

References

* * Loloish languages Languages of China {{st-lang-stub