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 (like the Yi people) and occasionally Ngwi or Nisoic, are a family of 50–100 Tibeto-Burman languages spoken primarily in the Yunnan province of Southwestern China. They are most closely related to Bur ...
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
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 ...
or
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,
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)
Phonological innovations
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 phonological 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, China. It is located in western Chuxiong Prefecture and borders Mouding County to the east, Chuxiong City and Jingdong Cou ...
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 northwest of Yunnan province, China. A prominent Chinese philosopher Li Zhi used to a prefect of Yao'an county and his gov ...
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 La ...
永胜县云山乡朗者村
#Lang'e, Lang'e,
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 La ...
永胜县莨莪乡茛莪村
#Zhijuxiao, Zhonghe,
Yongren County
Yongren County (; Chuxiong Yi script: , ) is a county under the administration of the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in the north of Yunnan province, China. It borders Huili, Sichuan across the Jinsha River to the east, Yuanmou County to the ...
永仁县中和乡直苴小村
#Hongmai,
Lijiang
Lijiang ( zh, s= ), formerly romanized 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) ...
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. It borders Zhenyuan County and Xinping County to the north, Yuanjiang County, Honghe County 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 northwestern Yunnan province, People's Republic of China, under the administration of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Geography
Dayao County is located in the northwest of Chuxiong ...
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 northwestern Yunnan province, southwest China. It borders Midu County to the east, Jingdong County and Yun County to the south, Fengqing County to the w ...
南涧县五乐乡五具村
#Yanzijiao, Guanting, Jingxing,
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. It borders Zhenyuan County and Xinping County to the north, Yuanjiang County, Honghe County and ...
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 southeastern Yunnan province, China. It is located about from Kunming, the provincial capital. The county has a population of approximately 280,000 and its area i ...
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 province, China. It borders Yuanyang County, Yunnan and Jianshui County to the east, Lüchun County to the south, Mojiang County
Mojiang Hani Autonomous County (; H ...
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. It borders Eshan County and Shiping County to ...
新平县老厂区竹园乡竹园村
#Suomili, Laowudou,
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. It borders Eshan County and Shiping County to ...
新平县老五斗乡梭咪里村
#Washaozong, Tadian,
Eshan County 峨山县塔甸乡瓦哨宗村
#Suxiong,
Ganluo County
Ganluo County ( zh, s=甘洛县; ) is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
Administrative divisions
Ganluo County administers the following 9 towns
A town is a type o ...
凉山州甘洛县苏雄乡
#Laodashu, 2nd Township,
Huili County
Huili ( zh, s=会理市, p=Huìlǐ Shì; Yi: or ''nyi ddix shyp'' or ''hop li shyp'') is a county-level city of far southern Sichuan province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
Formerly Huili C ...
凉山州会理县第二乡老大树
#Lizi, Hongma,
Xide County
Xide County (, ) is a county in the south of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. It is located in the southwestern mountainous area of the Sichuan Basin, in the north-central area of ...
凉山州喜德县红玛乡李子村
#Damaichong (upper village), Hejia, Liangshan,
Yuanmou County
Yuanmou County (; Yi script, Chuxiong Yi script: , International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: ) is under the administration of the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in the north of Yunnan province, China. It borders Wuding County to the east, Lufeng, ...
元谋县凉山乡何家村大麦冲上队
#Daxingzhai,
Wenshan County
Wenshan (; ), old name Kaihua, 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 a ...
文山县大兴寨; ''Zuoke language'' 坐柯
#Huangzhai (small village), Gaodeng,
Wenshan County
Wenshan (; ), old name Kaihua, 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 a ...
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.
Qiubei County is bordered by Guangnan County across the Qingshui River to the east, Yanshan County, Yunnan an ...
丘北县龙树村; ''Axi Touruo language'' 阿细拖若
#Anwang,
Guangnan County
Guangnan County (; Zhuang languages, 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 approximat ...
广南县安王村; ''Flowery Lolo'' 花倮
#Long'an,
Funing County 富宁县龙安; ''White Lolo'' 白倮
#Musang,
Funing County 富宁县木桑村; ''Black Lolo'' 黑倮
#Sayingpan, Luquan,
Kunming
Kunming is the capital and largest city of the province of Yunnan in China. The political, economic, communications and cultural centre of the province, Kunming is also the seat of the provincial government. During World War II, Kunming was a Ch ...
City 昆明市禄劝撒营盘
#Banaji,
Wuding County
Wuding County (; Yi script, Chuxiong Yi script: , International Phonetic Alphabet, 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 ...
武定县罢纳吉村
#Chijiabi, Biji, Xishan,
Kunming
Kunming is the capital and largest city of the province of Yunnan in China. The political, economic, communications and cultural centre of the province, Kunming is also the seat of the provincial government. During World War II, Kunming was a Ch ...
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-level city, prefecture and bordering Guizhou and Sichuan.
Geography
Zhengxiong County is located in the northeastern part o ...
County 镇雄县五区娃飞乡二村
#Laolin, Yanshan District,
Zhaotong
Zhaotong ( zh, t=昭通) 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 ...
County 昭通县盐山区老林乡
#Jingdi, Sayu,
Zhaotong
Zhaotong ( zh, t=昭通) 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 ...
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 of Bijie.
Notable attractions include Majie Ethnic Yi Village (), the historic site of Shimenk ...
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 city.
Administrative divisions
Dafang County is divided into 6 subdistricts, 10 towns
A town is a type of a human set ...
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
Panzhou is divided int ...
盘县
#De'e,
Longlin County
Longlin Various Nationalities 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 and west. As of 2019, the county's pop ...
隆林县德峨
#''
Axi'' 阿细: Xiaolongpu, Huakou, Xishan,
Mile County 弥勒县西三镇花口村公所小龙铺村
#''
Azhe'' 阿哲: Zhongzhai, Wushan,
Mile County 弥勒县五山中寨村
#''
Gupo'' 古泼: Songshulin, Niupo, Wushan,
Mile County 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. It borde ...
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,
Mile County 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 mimeographs, 3 volumes).] 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 Wuying Township 武应公社
��印乡*Yangbi (autonym:
lᴀ²¹lu⁵⁵po⁵⁵): in
Yangbi County
Yangbi Yi Autonomous County (; Bai: or or or ) is a county of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture located in the west of Yunnan Province, China. It borders Dali City and Weishan to the east, Changning County to the south, Yongping County 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 ( zh, s=盐源县, p=Yányuán Xiàn; ''yiep yuop xiep'', also ''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 Hengdu ...
, Sichuan 凉山州盐源县
*Honghe (autonym:
ne³³ʂu⁵⁵pʰo²¹)
*Shiping (autonym:
nie̱³³su⁵⁵pʰo²¹)
*Jiangcheng (autonym:
ne̱³³su⁵⁵pʰo²¹)
*Eshan (autonym:
nᴀ³³su⁵⁵pʰo²¹)
*Nanjian (autonym:
la²¹lo³³pa²¹)
YYFC (1983) was subsequently republished as Zhang (2017).
References
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Further reading
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{{Lolo-Burmese languages