Min Zhuang language


Min Zhuang is a recently described Tai language spoken in the Langheng area of Funing County, Yunnan, China, and possibly also southwestern Guangxi province. All speakers are reportedly bilingual in Yei Zhuang, which is classified as Northern Tai. The language was first described in 2011 by Eric C. Johnson of SIL International, though it had been earlier mentioned in Kullavanijaya and L-Thongkum.

Names

The Min Zhuang speakers of Guixun-Anhe call their language ' or '. Another Min Zhuang dialect is called ' or '.

Classification

Johnson reported Min Zhuang to share many features with Nong Zhuang, a Central Tai language. However, it is unintelligible with the more widely spoken Nong Zhuang, Yei Zhuang, and Dai Zhuang languages.

Distribution

Min Zhuang is spoken by about 2,600 people in 11 villages. With the exception of Shangmabu, all of the following villages are purely made up of Min Zhuang speakers.
Johnson reports that Min Zhuang is also likely to be spoken in southwestern Guangxi.