The Nisoish or Yi languages, which contains both the

Northern Loloish The Northern Loloish languages, also known as Northern Ngwi, are a branch of the Loloish languages that includes the literary standard of the Yi people. In Lama's (2012) classification, it is called ''Nisoid'' (''Nisu–Lope''), which forms the ...

(Northern Ngwi) and

Southeastern Loloish The Southeastern Loloish languages, also known as Southeastern Ngwi, are a branch of the Loloish languages. In Lama's (2012) classification, it is called ''Axi-Puoid'', which forms the Nisoish branch together with the ''Nisoid'' (''Nisu–Lope'' ...

(Southeastern Ngwi) branches, are a branch of the

Loloish languages 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 ...

proposed by Lama (2012). Northern Loloish and Southeastern Loloish were established by Bradley (1997), while the Nisoish group combining Bradley's two branches was proposed by Ziwo Lama (2012). Lama (2012) refers to Northern Loloish as ''Nisoid'' or ''Nisu–Lope'', and Southeastern Loloish as ''Axi–Puoid''.

Classification history

In the past, Southeastern Loloish languages had variously been classified as

Central Loloish The Central Loloish languages, also known as Central Ngwi, is a branch of Loloish languages in Bradley (1997). It is not used in Lama's (2012) classification. Central Loloish is also not supported in Satterthwaite-Phillips' (2011) computational p ...

, but were later recognized as forming a separate branch of Loloish by Bradley (2002). Jamin Pelkey (2011:368-371) also noted that Southeastern Loloish and Northern Loloish branches are likely to be sister branches with each other. Shortly later, Ziwo Lama's (2012) computational phylogenetic analysis of the Lolo-Burmese languages gave further support to Pelkey's hypothesis. Northern Loloish and Southeastern Loloish languages were also found to constitute a single branch in Satterthwaite-Phillips' (2011) computational phylogenetic analysis of the Lolo-Burmese languages, who considers Nasu,

Nosu Nosu is a district in Mamasa Regency, West Sulawesi, Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, includ ...

, Nisu, and Samei as belonging to the same branch.

Languages

Lama (2012)'s ''Nisoish'' branch is contains two subgroups, namely '' Axi–Puoid'' (also known as Southeastern Loloish) and '' Nisoid'' (also known as Northern Loloish). Lama (2012) gives the following internal phylogeny for the Nisoish branch. Four of the six Yi languages (''fangyan'' 方言) officially recognized by the Chinese government belong to Lama's Nisoish clade. *Northern Yi ( Nuosu 诺苏) *Eastern Yi ( Nasu 纳苏) *Southern Yi ( Nisu 尼苏) *Southeastern Yi ( Sani 撒尼) However, the remaining two of the six officially recognized Yi languages belong to Lama's Lisoish clade. *Western Yi ( Lalo 腊罗) *Central Yi ( Lolopo 倮倮泼) Lama (2012) lists the following changes from

Proto-Loloish Proto-Loloish is the reconstructed ancestor of the Loloish languages. Reconstructions include those of David Bradley (1979), James Matisoff (2003), and Ziwo Lama (2012). In later publications, in place of ''Loloish'', David Bradley instead uses ...

as innovations among various branches and languages of Nisoish. * *NC- > (Nasu and Gepu) * *s- > (Zuoke and Polo) * *xl- > (Sani, Axi, Azhe, Azha) * *plh- > (Nisoid) * *ŋg- > (Nisoid)

Demographics and varieties

Wang (2003)

''Yiyu Fangyan Bijiao Yanjiu'' (彝语方言比较研究) by Wang Chengyou (王成有) (2003) gives phonological inventories for Yi (Nisoish) languages spoken in the following locations. #Miyajing, Sanhe,

Nanhua County Nanhua County (; Chuxiong Yi script: , IPA: ) is a county located in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province Yunnan , () is a landlocked province in the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approxima ...

南华县三河底米丫井村 #Zhuangke, Zhuangke,

Yao'an County Yao'an County (; Chuxiong Yi script: , IPA: ) is under the administration of the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in the west-central part of Yunnan province, China. A prominent Chinese philosopher Li Zhi used to a prefect of Yao'an county and ...

姚安县庄科乡庄科村 #Langzhe, Yunshan,

Yongsheng County Yongsheng County () is located in the northwest of Yunnan province, China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Lijiang. In 2019 the county had a population of 406,757 including 34.42% ethnic minorities. The Chenghai Lak ...

永胜县云山乡朗者村 #Lang'e, Lang'e,

永胜县莨莪乡茛莪村 #Zhijuxiao, Zhonghe,

Yongren County Yongren County (; Chuxiong Yi script: , IPA: ) is a county under the administration of the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in the north of Yunnan province, China, bordering Sichuan province to the northeast. Administrative divisions Yongren Co ...

永仁县中和乡直苴小村 #Hongmai,

Lijiang Lijiang (), also known as Likiang, is a prefecture-level city in the northwest of Yunnan Province, China. It has an area of and had a population of 1,253,878 at the 2020 census whom 288,787 lived in the built-up area (metro) made of Gucheng ...

丽江红麦; ''Tanglang language'' 堂郎语 #Huazhuqing, Xin'an,

Mojiang County Mojiang Hani Autonomous County (; Hani: ) is an autonomous county under the jurisdiction of Pu'er City, in the south of Yunnan Province, China. Administrative divisions In the present, Mojiang Hani Autonomous County has 12 towns, 2 townships and ...

思茅地区墨江县新安乡滑竹箐 #Hemezha, Digengzuo, Buqi, Tanhua,

Dayao County Dayao County (; Chuxiong Yi script: , IPA：) is a county of north-central Yunnan province, People's Republic of China, under the administration of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture (; Chuxiong Yi script: ， ...

大姚县昙华乡补期地耕作黑么鲊村 #Aiguo, Yangjiang, Weishan County 巍山县漾江农场爱国村 #Sanjia, Chongfeng, Weishan County 巍山县冲锋乡三家村 #Lewuju, Wule,

Nanjian County Nanjian Yi Autonomous County () is a county in the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture located in the west central part of Yunnan province, China. Administrative divisions Nanjian Yi Autonomous County has 5 towns and 3 townships. ;5 towns ;3 townsh ...

南涧县五乐乡五具村 #Yanzijiao, Guanting, Jingxing,

思茅地区墨江县景星乡官厅岩子脚村 #Xiaoguangshan, Baoxiu,

Shiping County Shiping County () is a county in the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture in the southern part of the Yunnan province, China. It is located about from Kunming, the provincial capital. The county has a population of approximately 280,000 an ...

红河州石屏县宝秀乡小光山村 #Zuoluo,

Honghe County Honghe County () is located in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, 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 ...

红河州红河县座落村 #Zhuyuan, Zhuyuan, Laochang District,

Xinping County Xinping Yi and Dai Autonomous County () is an autonomous county located in the central part of Yunnan Province, China. It is the westernmost county-level division of the prefecture-level city of Yuxi. Administrative divisions Xinping Yi and Dai A ...

新平县老厂区竹园乡竹园村 #Suomili, Laowudou,

新平县老五斗乡梭咪里村 #Washaozong, Tadian,

Eshan County Eshan Yi Autonomous County (; Yi: ) is located in Yuxi, in the central part of Yunnan Province, China. Administrative divisions Eshan Yi Autonomous County has 2 subdistricts, 3 towns and 3 townships. ;2 subdistricts * Shuangjiang () * Xiaojie ...

峨山县塔甸乡瓦哨宗村 #Suxiong,

Ganluo County Ganluo County (; Yi: ''ga lo xiep'') is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Administration Towns (镇, ''zhen'') The county oversees seven towns: * Xinshiba (新市� ...

凉山州甘洛县苏雄乡 #Laodashu, 2nd Township,

Huili County Huili (; Yi: or ''nyi ddix xiep'' or ''hop li xiep'') is a county-level city of far southern Sichuan province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. The county-level city was severely affected by ...

凉山州会理县第二乡老大树 #Lizi, Hongma,

Xide County Xide County () (Northern Yi dialect: ꑝꅇꑤ xit ddop xiep /ɕɪ˥dʊ˨˩ ɕɛ˨˩/) is a county under the jurisdiction of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. Located in the southwestern mountainous ...

凉山州喜德县红玛乡李子村 #Damaichong (upper village), Hejia, Liangshan,

Yuanmou County 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 ...

元谋县凉山乡何家村大麦冲上队 #Daxingzhai,

Wenshan County Wenshan (; za, Vwnzsanh Si) is a city in and the seat of Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, in the southeast of Yunnan province, People's Republic of China. It once was a county (Wenshan County; ), but on 2 December 2010, with the app ...

文山县大兴寨; ''Zuoke language'' 坐柯 #Huangzhai (small village), Gaodeng,

文山县高登乡村公所荒寨小队; ''Azhapu language'' 阿扎仆 #Longshu,

Qiubei County Qiubei County () is under the administration of the Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, in southeast Yunnan province, China. Administrative divisions In the present, Qiubei County has 3 towns, 4 townships and 5 ethnic townships. ;3 to ...

丘北县龙树村; ''Axi Touruo language'' 阿细拖若 #Anwang,

Guangnan County Guangnan County (; Zhuang: ) is located in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province, China. The seat of Guangnan, known today as Liancheng (), was the heart of the Gouding Kingdom () that lasted approximately 400 years, f ...

广南县安王村; ''Flowery Lolo'' 花倮 #Long'an,

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 ...

富宁县龙安; ''White Lolo'' 白倮 #Musang,

富宁县木桑村; ''Black Lolo'' 黑倮 #Sayingpan, Luquan,

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 ...

City 昆明市禄劝撒营盘 #Banaji,

Wuding County 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 onl ...

武定县罢纳吉村 #Chijiabi, Biji, Xishan,

City 昆明市西山区碧鸡乡赤甲碧村 #2nd Village, Wafei, 5th District,

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 ...

County 镇雄县五区娃飞乡二村 #Laolin, Yanshan District,

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 ...

County 昭通县盐山区老林乡 #Jingdi, Sayu,

County 昭通县洒渔乡井底村 #Longjie, 9th Township,

Weining County Weining Yi Hui and Miao Autonomous County (; Xiao'erjing: ) is a county of Guizhou, China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city A prefecture-level city () or prefectural city is an administrative division of the People ...

威宁县九乡龙街 #

Dafang County Dafang (), called Dading () until 1958, is a county of Guizhou province, China. It is under the administration of Bijie Bijie () is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Guizhou Province, China, bordering Sichuan to the north and Yunnan to the ...

大方县 #

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 ...

盘县 #De'e,

Longlin County 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 ...

隆林县德峨 #'' Axi'' 阿细: Xiaolongpu, Huakou, Xishan,

Mile County Mile (; ; Hani language: ; Yi: ) is a county-level city located in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province, China. It is named after the Maitreya Buddha, for which there was a temple located on a nearby mountain, making it the o ...

弥勒县西三镇花口村公所小龙铺村 #''

Azhe Azhe (Chinese: 阿哲; Azhepo; autonym: ) is one of the Loloish languages spoken by the Yi people of China.黄建明 Huáng Jiànmíng 彝族古籍文献概要 1993 Yizu guji wenxian gaiyao utline of classical literature of Yi nationality By Hua ...

'' 阿哲: Zhongzhai, Wushan,

弥勒县五山中寨村 #'' Gupo'' 古泼: Songshulin, Niupo, Wushan,

弥勒县五山乡牛坡村公所松树林村 #'' Sani'' 撒尼: Fengwu, Wujiepu, Luxi County 泸西县午街铺镇凤午村 #''Pula'' 濮拉: Wudupi, Chongmen, Mazheshao,

Kaiyuan County Kaiyuan () is a county-level city within the jurisdiction of Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture in the southeast of Yunnan province, China. Geography The maximum sea level of Kaiyuan is 2,775.6 meters and the minimum is 950 meters. The annu ...

开远县马者哨乡冲门村委会乌都皮村 #'' Nisu'' 尼苏: Baishengzhai (upper village), Baishengzhai, Yuanyang County 元阳县百胜寨乡百胜寨上村 #''Naisu'' 乃苏: Weisuo, Wushan,

弥勒县五山乡围锁村

YYFC (1983)

YYFC (1983)YYFC (Yunnan University for Nationalities and Guiding Committee of Studying and Working on Yunnan Minority Languages 云南民族大学格云南民族语文指导工作委员会编). 1983. 云南彝语方言词语汇编 Collection of Yi Dialects’ Lexicon in Yunnan(Handwritten Mimeograph). gives vocabulary lists for Yi (Nisoish) languages spoken in the following locations. *Luquan (autonym: na̱³³so³³pʰo⁵⁵): in Tuanjie Township 团街公社 *Wuding (autonym: ʔᴀ⁵⁵lɑ̱³³pʰo⁵⁵): in Dongpo Township 东坡公社 *Xundian (autonym: ne⁵⁵su̱³³pʰo⁵⁵): in Jiga, Sishao Village, Jijie Township 鸡街公社四哨大队既嘎村 *Lunan (Heixi 黑夕) (autonym: ni⁵⁵sɛ²¹pʰu⁵⁵): in Miaozhuqing Township 亩竹箐公社 *Luoping (autonym: na⁵⁵sɯ²¹pʰo⁵⁵): in Fawan, Dashuijing Township 大水井公社法湾大队 *Weining (autonym: nɤ⁵⁵su¹³): in Shejigu, Longjie Township, District 9, Weining County, Guizhou 贵州威宁九区龙街公社奢基姑大队 *Kunming (autonym: ʂaŋ²¹ni⁵¹): in Puzhao Village, Ala Township, Guandu District 官渡区阿拉公社普照村 *Lunan (Sani 撒尼) (autonym: nɪ²¹): in Xuanzheng Village, Weize Township; and in Yehetaoshu Village, Xueshan Township 尾则公社宣政村、雪山公社野核桃树村 *Mile (Awu 阿乌) (autonym: lo²¹³pʰɯ²¹): in Jieyupo, Shemu Village, Dongshan Township 东山公社舍木大队捷雨坡村 *Mile (Axi 阿细) (autonym: ᴀ²¹ɕɪ⁵⁵pʰo²¹): in Youzhadi and Dapingdi villages, Gongyi Township 西一公社油乍地、大平地 *Mile (Azhe 阿哲) (autonym: ᴀ²¹dʐɛ²²pʰo²¹): in Zhongzhai Shengchan, Sijia Village, Wushan Township 五山公社四家大队中寨生产队 *Yanshan (autonym: pʰo⁵⁵lo⁵⁵): in Datiezhai, Changji Village, Ganhe Township 干河公社长吉大队大铁寨村 *Wenshan (autonym: dzω²¹kʰω³³): in Daxingzhai, Zhuilijie Township 追栗街公社大兴寨 *Funing (autonym: mo²¹ndʑi²¹): in Musang, Daping Village, Muyang Township 木央公社大坪大队木桑队 *Xinping (autonym: ȵe̱³³ʂu⁵⁵): in Zhuyuan, Zhuyuan Village, Laochang Township 老厂公社竹园大队竹园村 *Weishan (autonym: la²¹lu̪³³pa¹¹): in Wuyin Township 武应公社 ��印乡*Yangbi (autonym: lᴀ²¹lu⁵⁵po⁵⁵): in

Yangbi County Yangbi Yi Autonomous County () is a county of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture located in the west of Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked province in the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and ...

漾濞县 *Yongren (autonym: lo³³lo³³pʰo²¹): in Zhiju, Zhonghe Township 中和公社直苴小村 *Yongsheng (Taliu 它六) (autonym: tʰɑ²¹lu̪⁵⁵): in Village 9, Liude Village, Liude Township, 六德公社六德大队九队 *Yongsheng (Lawu 拉务) (autonym: lᴀ²¹u²¹): in Wangjia, Maowu Shengchan Village, Lang'e Village, Xinghu Township 星湖公社莨莪大队茅五生产队王家村 *Lijiang (autonym: tʰo³³lo³³za³³): in Shuimao, Hongqi Village, Tai'an Township 太安公社红旗大队水茅村 *Yuanmou (autonym: niɛ³³su³³): in Upper Damaichong, Hejia Village, Liangshan Township 凉山公社何家村大队大麦冲上队 *Liangshan (autonym: nɔ³³su³³): in

Yanyuan County Yanyuan County (; ii, ꋂꂿꑤ ce mo xiep) is a county in Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China, bordering Yunnan province to the west. The county is located in Sichuan's rugged Hengduan Mountains in southwest Sichuan, but the county se ...

, Sichuan 凉山州盐源县 *Honghe (autonym: ne³³ʂu⁵⁵pʰo²¹) *Shiping (autonym: nie̱³³su⁵⁵pʰo²¹) *Jiangcheng (autonym: ne̱³³su⁵⁵pʰo²¹) *Eshan (autonym: nᴀ³³su⁵⁵pʰo²¹) *Nanjian (autonym: la²¹lo³³pa²¹)

References