Gelao (autonym: Kláo, Chinese: 仡佬 GÃÂlÃÂo, Vietnamese: Cá» Lao) is a Kra language in the KraâÂÂDai language family. It is spoken by the Gelao people in southern China and northern Vietnam. Despite an ethnic population of 580,000 (2000 census of China), only a few thousand still speak Gelao in China. Estimates run from 3,000 in China by Li in 1999, of which 500 are monolinguals, to 7,900 by Edmondson in 2008. Edmondson (2002) estimates that the three Gelao varieties of Vietnam have only about 350 speakers altogether.
External relationships
Like Buyang, another Kra language, Gelao contains many words which are likely to be Austronesian cognates. (See Austro-Tai languages.)
As noted by Li and Zhou (1999), Gelao shares much vocabulary with the Hlai and Ong Be languages, suggesting contact with Pre-Hlai speakers before their migration to Hainan.
Demographics
China
Zhang Jimin estimated a total of over 10,000 Gelao speakers in the early 1990s, while Li Jinfang places this number at 3,000 in 1999. Jerold A. Edmondson's 2008 estimate is 7,900 speakers. This number is rapidly declining, as the Gelao are intermarrying with the neighboring Han, Bouyei, and Miao. Many Gelao speakers can also speak Bouyei, Zhuang, or Miao, and nearly all can speak local varieties of Chinese. Among Gelao-speaking families, most middle-age Gelao have very limited speaking abilities for Gelao, while much of the younger generation cannot even understand the most simple words and phrases.
A divergent variety of Gelao known as Shuicheng Gelao æ°´åÂÂ仡佬诠(also known as Datie Gelao æÂÂéÂÂ仡佬è¯Â; autonym: ') is spoken in Dongkou æ´Â壿ÂÂ, Houchang Township ç´åº乡 and Datiezhai æÂÂéÂÂ寨, Miluo Township 米箩乡, both located in Shuicheng County, Guizhou Province, China (Li & Yang 2016: 71). The Gelao of Datiezhai reported that they had migrated from Dongkou 4 generations ago. Li & Yang (2016) report that there are only 3 speakers of Shuicheng Gelao left.
The Mulao number 28,000 people, and are distributed in Majiang, Kaili, Huangping, Duyun, Weng'an, Fuquan, and other counties of southeastern Guizhou. The Mulao of Xuanwei and Jidong villages refer to themselves as the Mu, and in Longli village é¾ÂéÂÂ寨 they call themselves '. The Mulao speak a variety of Gelao, not the Mulam language of Guangxi, which is also called Mulao. Luo (1997) describes the two Mulao varieties of ' (') in Majiang County and ' in Kaili City. One dialect is represented by the datapoints of Bamaozhai å·´èÂÂ
寨 and Madizhai 马碲寨 of Xuanwei District 宣å¨Âåº, Majiang County (Luo 1997:105, 115), and the other by Bailazhai ç½èÂ
Â寨, Lushan Town çÂÂå±±éÂÂ, Kaili City (Luo 1997:189); the latter is also spoken in Dafengdong 大é£Âæ´Â, Pingliang å¹³è¯, and Chong'anjiang éÂÂå®Âæ±Â. Mulao data from Majiang and Kaili are also given in Guizhou (1985).
The extinct (Ã¥ÂÂè®è¯Â) of Sinan County, Guizhou was a variety of Gelao.
Hsiu (2017) reports a Wai Gelao (Chinese: æÂªä»¡ä½¬è¯Â, "Crooked Gelao") language variety from Dingjiapo ä¸Âå®¶å¡, Mugang Village æÂ¨æÂ æÂÂ, Muyang Town æÂ¨å¤®éÂÂ, Funing County, Yunnan. One 83-year-old woman remembered a few kinship terms.
In Qingzhen City, A'ou Gelao is spoken in the following villages (Qingzhen 2004:25-30).
- Luohang village è½夯æÂÂ
- Mahuang village èÂÂèÂ¥æÂÂ, Wangzhuang Township çÂÂåºÂå¸Âä¾ÂæÂÂèÂÂæÂÂ乡
- Yinqiao village é¶桥æÂÂ, Weicheng Town å«åÂÂéÂÂ
- Yangshan village é³山æÂÂ, Anliu Township æÂÂæµÂ乡
Zhou (2004) reports that there are no more than 6,000 Gelao speakers, making up only 1.2% of the total number of ethnic Gelao people. The following table, based on Zhou (2004:150âÂÂ151), shows the number of Gelao speakers in each county as of the 1990s. All counties are in Guizhou province unless specified otherwise.
The Gelao people in the following counties do not speak any form of the Gelao language whatsoever, and have shifted entirely to Southwestern Mandarin.
Vietnam
The most endangered variety, Red Gelao of Vietnam, is spoken by only about 50 people. Many speakers have shifted to Southwestern Mandarin or Hmong. The Red Gelao people, who call themselves the ', send brides back and forth among the villages of Na Khê and Bạch ÃÂÃÂch (or Bìch ÃÂich) in Yên Minh District, HàGiang Province, Vietnam and another village in Fanpo, Malipo County, Yunnan, China (autonym: ') in order to ensure the continual survival of their ethnic group. Edmondson (1998) reports that there are also Red Gelao people in Cán TÃÂ, Quản Bạ District and Túng Sán, Hoàng Su Phì District who no longer speak any Gelao, and speak Hmong, Tay, or Vietnamese instead. Hoang (2013:12) reports that there also some Red Gelao in Vénh Hảo commune, Bắc Quang District who had moved from Túng Sán commune. However, the White Gelao of Phá» La Village and SÃÂnh Lá»§ng Village of Dá»Âng VÃÂn District still speak the White Gelao language.
Varieties
Gelao is not well documented, having only been studied by a few scholars such as Li Jinfang, Jerold A. Edmondson, Weera Ostapirat, and Zhang Jimin. The three varieties in Vietnam are not mutually intelligible, and three varieties in China may be distinct languages as well. Ethnologue classifies Gelao as four languages, perhaps as closely related to the two Lachi languages as they are to each other.
Ostapirat (2000), Edmondson (2008)
Ostapirat (2000) proposed three major subdivisions for Gelao, with a total of 17 varieties. The Central and Southwestern branches shares various phonological innovations, suggesting an initial split with the Northern branch. Some varieties cited are also from Jerold A. Edmondson (2008). Edmondson also proposes that Red Gelao of the China-Vietnam border may in fact constitute a separate primary branch of Gelao.
Central (Gao)
- Wanzi 弯åÂÂ寨, Anshun å®Â顺, Guizhou (also spoken in Heizhai é»Â寨)
- Dagouchang 大çÂÂåº, Huolong æ´»é¾Â乡, Pingba å¹³åÂÂ, Guizhou
- Xinzhai æÂ°å¯¨, Baiyan ç½岩乡, Puding æÂ®å®Â, Guizhou (also spoken in Wozi çªÂÃ¥ÂÂ)
- Sanchong (ä¸Â岿ÂÂ), Longlin (éÂÂæÂÂå¿), Guangxi
- Green Gelao of Hoàng Su Phì, Vietnam
Northern (Red Gelao)
- Qiaoshang æ¡¥ä¸Â, Xiongjiazhai çÂÂ家寨乡, Longchang é¾Âåºåº, Zhijin ç»ÂéÂÂ, Guizhou
- Bigong æ¯Âè´¡, Dingqi ä¸ÂæÂÂ乡, Zhenning éÂÂå®Â, Guizhou
- Longli é¾ÂéÂÂ, Majiang 麻æ±Â, Guizhou (Zhang calls this dialect Mulao æÂ¨ä½¬; autonym: ' Ã¥ÂÂçªÂ); there are two dialects (Bo Wenze 2003):
- Xiasi ä¸Âå¸ (in Longlizhai é¾ÂéÂÂ寨, etc.) and Longshan é¾Âå±± (in Bamaozhai èÂÂèÂÂ
寨 of Fuxing å¤ÂÃ¥Â
´æÂÂ, Huangtuzhai é»ÂÃ¥ÂÂ寨 of Wengpao ç¿Âè¢ÂæÂÂ, Bailazhai ç½èÂ
Â寨, etc.) of Majiang County
- Lushan çÂÂå±±, Chongbaizhai éÂÂæÂÂ寨 of Dafengdong 大é£Âæ´ (autonym: ' ç±»çªÂ), and Pingliang å¹³è¯ of Kaili City; Chang'anjiang é¿å®Âæ± of Huangping County
- Longjia é¾Â家寨, Zhijin ç»ÂéÂÂ, Guizhou
Southwestern (White and Green Gelao)
- Laozhai èÂÂ寨, Malipo 麻æ Âå¡, Yunnan (related dialects spoken in Yueliangwan æÂÂ亮弯 of Yangwan township æÂ¨ä¸Â乡; Fengyan 峰岩 of Dongdu village è£度æÂÂ; Chongba é³åÂ
« of Donggan è£干乡)
- Ban Ma Che, ÃÂá»Âng VÃÂn, HàGiang, Vietnam
- White Gelao of HàGiang Province: ÃÂá»Âng VÃÂn, Hoàng Su Phì, Quản Bạ, and Mèo Vạc districts
- Red Gelao of Fanpo (ç¿»å¡), Malipo (麻æ Âå¡å¿), Yunnan (?)
- Moji æÂ©/磨/ä¹Âåº, Longlin éÂÂæÂÂ, Guangxi in ä¸Âå² Shangchong and ä¸Âå² Xiachong (< 400 speakers; near Dashuijing 大水äºÂ; related dialects in Wantao 弯桠and Zhe'ai èÂÂ
è¾ of Yancha 岩è¶乡)
- Niupo çÂÂå¡, Liuzhi Ã¥Â
ÂæÂÂ, Guizhou (most populous; also spoken in Machang 马åºé of Puding æÂ®å®Âå¿ and Agong é¿å¼Âé of Zhijin ç»ÂéÂÂå¿; Judu å±Â
é½, Yanjiao 岩èÂÂ, Houzitian ç´åÂÂç°, Langjiaba éÂÂå®¶åÂÂ, and Duojiao å Âè of Liuzhi Ã¥Â
ÂæÂÂ)
- Datiezhai æÂÂéÂÂ寨, Shuicheng æ°´åÂÂ, Guizhou (also spoken in Gaoshi é«Âç³ and Miluo 米箩)
- Dingyinshao å®Âé¶å¨, Zhenning éÂÂå®Â, Guizhou
- Pudi æÂ®åºÂ, Dafang 大æÂ¹, Guizhou (also spoken in Hongfeng 红丰æÂÂ)
- Jianshan å°Âå±±, Zunyi éµä¹Â, Guizhou (also spoken in Pingzheng å¹³æÂ£, Zunyi along with Red and Green Gelao; fewer than 500 speakers)
- Qinglong éÂÂé¾Â, Zunyi éµä¹Â, Guizhou
- Sanchong ä¸Â岿ÂÂ, Longlin éÂÂæÂÂ, Guangxi (grouped as Central by Shen Yumay and Jerold A. Edmondson)
Zhang (1993)
Zhang Jimin (1993) recognizes the following subdivisions of Gelao.
- Central é»Âä¸ÂæÂ¹è¨ (10,000 speakers)
- Dagouchang subdialect å¹³åÂÂå¿大çÂÂåºåÂÂè¯Â: spoken in Wanzi 弯å and Heizhai é»Â寨 of Anshun City å®Â顺å¿; and Dagouchang 大çÂÂåº and Wangzhai çÂÂ寨 of Pingba County å¹³åÂÂå¿ (autonyms: ' in Anshun; ' or ' in Pingba).
- Xinzhai subdialect æÂ®å®Âå¿æÂ°å¯¨åÂÂè¯Â: spoken in Xinzhai æÂ°å¯¨, Wozi çªÂÃ¥ÂÂ, Changchong é¿å², and Weiqi æÂªä¸ villages in Baiyan District ç½岩åº, Puding District æÂ®å®Âå¿ (autonym: ').
- Xiongzhai subdialect ç»ÂéÂÂçÂÂ寨åÂÂè¯Â: spoken in Qiaoshang Village æ¡¥ä¸ÂæÂÂ, Xiongjiazhai Township çÂÂ家寨乡, Longchang District é¾Âåºåº, Zhijin County ç»ÂéÂÂå¿.
- North-Central é»Âä¸ÂÃ¥ÂÂæÂ¹è¨ (14,000 speakers)
- Subdialect 1: spoken in Yatang äºÂå¡Â, Maoba District èÂÂ
Ã¥ÂÂåº, Renhuai City ä»ÂæÂÂå¿; and Shanbeihou Village å±±èÂÂÃ¥ÂÂæÂÂ, Liangshui Township Ã¥ÂÂæ°´, Qinglong County; and Sanchong ä¸Âå², Longlin County éÂÂæÂÂå¿, Guangxi (autonym: '). Also spoken by the Green Gelao éÂÂ仡佬 of Yangliu Village æÂ¨æÂ³æÂÂ, Renhuai City ä»ÂæÂÂå¿ (autonym: ').
- Subdialect 2: spoken by the Red Gelao 红仡佬 of Banliwan æÂ¿æ Âæ¹¾, Maoba District èÂÂ
Ã¥ÂÂåº, Renhuai City ä»ÂæÂÂå¿; and some villages of Pingzheng Township å¹³æÂ£ä¹¡, Zunyi County éµä¹Âå¿ (autonym: ', where ' means 'people'), including in Tianba ç°åÂÂ, Heijiaoyan é»ÂèÂÂ岩, Pingzheng Township.
- Southwestern é»Â西åÂÂæÂ¹è¨ (12,000 speakers)
- Niupo subdialect Ã¥Â
ÂæÂÂçÂÂç ´åÂÂè¯Â: spoken in Duoque å ÂèÂÂ, Houzitian ç´åÂÂç°, and Langjiaba éÂÂå®¶å of Liuzhi Special District Ã¥Â
ÂæÂÂç¹åº; Shangguan ä¸ÂÃ¥Â
³ and Xiaguan ä¸ÂÃ¥Â
³ in Yingpan Town èÂ¥çÂÂéÂÂ, Machang District 马åºåº, Puding County æÂ®å®Âå¿ (elderly rememberers only); some villages in Agong District é¿å¼Âåº, Zhijin County ç»ÂéÂÂå¿.
- Moji subdialect éÂÂæÂÂä¹ÂåºåÂÂè¯Â: spoken in Dashuijing 大水äºÂ, Longlin County éÂÂæÂÂå¿, Guangxi and other nearby villages. 400 speakers.
- Laozhai subdialect 麻æ Âå¡å¿èÂÂ寨åÂÂè¯Â: spoken in Laozhai èÂÂ寨 and Yueliangwan æÂÂ亮湾 in Tiechang District éÂÂÃ¥ÂÂåº, Malipo County 麻æ Âå¡å¿
- Datiezhai subdialect æ°´åÂÂ大éÂÂ寨åÂÂè¯Â: spoken in Gaoshi Township é«Âç³乡, Yangmei District æÂ¨æ¢Â
åº and Ega Township ä¿ÂÃ¥ÂÂ乡, Miluo District 米箩åº, Shuicheng County æ°´åÂÂç¹åº (elderly rememberers only).
- Jianshan subdialect éµä¹Âå°Âå±±åÂÂè¯Â: spoken in Jianshan å°Âå±±, Pingzheng Township å¹³æÂ£ä¹¡, Zunyi County éµä¹Âå¿. Under 500 speakers.
- Western é»Â西æÂ¹è¨ (15,000 speakers)
- Pudi subdialect 大æÂ¹å¿æÂ®åºÂÃ¥ÂÂè¯Â: spoken in Hongfeng Village 红丰æÂÂ, Pudi Township æÂ®åºÂ乡, Dafang County (autonym: '); Lannigou 滥泥æ²Â, Shajing Township æ²ÂäºÂ乡, Qianxi County; a few villages in Daguan District 大è§Âåº, Qianxi County; Dazhai 大寨 and Gaokanzhai é«ÂÃ¥ÂÂ寨 in Fenghuang Village å¤å°æÂÂ, Xinfa Township æÂ°åÂÂ乡, Qingzhen City; Maixiang 麦巷 and Houzhai Ã¥ÂÂ寨 townships, Qingzhen City
- Bigong subdialect éÂÂå®Âæ¯Âè´¡åÂÂè¯Â: spoken in Bigong Village æ¯Âè´¡æÂ and Maocao èÂÂ
è in Mafang Township æÂ°æÂ¿ä¹¡, Anxi District å®Â西åº, Zhenning County éÂÂå®Âå¿ (autonym: ')
Bradley (2007), He (1983)
The Encyclopedia of the World's Endangered Languages (2007), based on information from He (1983), groups Gelao into five subdivisions.
- Hakhi (Ã¥ÂÂç» Hagei, ', Green Gelao): west-central Guizhou, western Guangxi, southeastern Yunnan, northern Vietnam - including Yangliu (æÂ¨æÂ³) variety in Renhuai County; southwestern Gelao of Sanchong (ä¸Âå²) and Qinglong (éÂÂé¾Â). Hagei varieties are also spoken in Ma'ao (麻广ÂÂ), Guanling County (Ã¥Â
³å²Âå¿), Pomao (å¡帽) in Zhenfeng County (è´Â丰å¿), and Pingzheng Gelao Village (å¹³æÂ£ä»¡ä½¬æÂÂ乡), Zunyi (éµä¹Â). Estimated by Jiashan He (1983) at 1,700 speakers. He (1983) also lists Anliang å®Âè¯ and Taiyang 太é³ of Renhuai ä»ÂæÂÂå¿, Huajiangzhen è±æ±Âé and Ma'ao 麻å of Zhenning éÂÂå®Âå¿, Dingying é¡¶èÂÂ¥ of Guanling Ã¥Â
³å²Âå¿, Maixiang 麦巷 near Qingzhen æ¸Â
éÂÂ, and Liangshuiying Ã¥ÂÂæ°´èÂÂ¥ of Qinglong æÂ´éÂÂå¿ as Hagei-speaking places.
- Tolo (å¤Âç½ Duoluo, ', White Gelao): west-central Guizhou, western Guangxi, southeastern Yunnan, northern Vietnam; all other southwestern Gelao varieties. The Niupo variety is also spoken in Machang village (马åºéÂÂ), Puding County (æÂ®å®Âå¿), Anshun, as well as Agong village (é¿å¼ÂéÂÂ), Zhijin County (ç»ÂéÂÂå¿), Bijie. The Datiezhai variety is spoken in Gaoshi (é«Âç³) of Shuicheng (æ°´åÂÂ) and Miluo (米箩) of Shuicheng (æ°´åÂÂ). Estimated by Jiashan He (1983) at 1,200 speakers.
- A-uo (é¿欧 A'ou/Ao, Red Gelao): west-central Guizhou, western Guangxi, southeastern Yunnan, northern Vietnam - including Banli (æÂ¿æ Âæ¹¾) variety in Renhuai County; all northern Gelao varieties, as well as southwestern Gelao of Puding County (æÂ®å®Âå¿) and Maocaozhai (èÂÂ
èÂÂ寨), Zhijin County (ç»ÂéÂÂå¿). Estimated by Jiashan He (1983) at 1,500 speakers. He (1983) also lists Shawo æ²ÂçªÂ, Xinkaitian æÂ°å¼Âç°, Lannigou 滥泥沠(all in Qianxi é»Â西å¿) as A'ou-speaking places.
- Aqao (稿 Gao): west-central Guizhou; all central Gelao varieties. Estimated by Jiashan He (1983) at 2,000 speakers. He (1983) also listed Dongkou æ´Âå£ of Shuicheng æ°´åÂÂå¿ and Niudong çÂÂæ´ of Zhijin ç»ÂéÂÂå¿ as Gao-speaking places.
- : Gulin County (å¤èºå¿), Sichuan; mostly unattested. This dialect is spoken by the Yi (), who are the least-known Gelao subgroup.
The most extensively studied varieties are the Wanzi and Zhenfeng dialects, while the most endangered one is Red Gelao.
Zhou (2004)
Zhou (2004) lists four dialects of Gelao.
- Hagei (Ã¥ÂÂç»Â): Autonyms include ' (å¸ÂÃ¥ÂÂç»Â) and ' (å¸Âç®亨). Primarily spoken in Renhuai, Zhenning, Guanling, Qinglong, Zhenfeng, and Longlin Counties.
- Pomao å¡帽æÂÂ, Zhenfeng è´Â丰å¿
- Duoluo (å¤Âç½Â): Autonyms include ' and '. Primarily spoken in Liuzhi District, Puding, Longlin, and Malipo Counties.
- Qingkou ç®Âå£å½ÂæÂÂ仡佬æÂÂå¸Âä¾ÂæÂÂ乡, Liuzhi Ã¥Â
ÂæÂÂç¹åº
- Machang 马åº寨, Puding (extinct)
- Mengzhou çÂÂèÂÂæÂÂ, Puding (extinct)
- Gao (稿): Autonyms include ', ' (in Dongkou Ã¥ÂÂ壿ÂÂ, Houchang Township ç´åº乡), and '. Primarily spoken in Pingba, Anshun, Puding, and Shuicheng Counties. Its 4 dialects are Dagouchang 大çÂÂåº of Pingba, Xinzhai æÂ°å¯¨ of Puding, Dongkou æ´Âå£ of Shuicheng, and Xiongzhai çÂÂ寨 of Zhijin (extinct).
- Dongkou Ã¥ÂÂ壿ÂÂ, Houchang ç´åº乡, Shuicheng æ°´åÂÂå¿
- Shuangkeng Ã¥ÂÂÃ¥ÂÂæÂÂ, Puding
- A'ou (é¿欧): Autonyms include ' (é¿欧), ' (补欧, è¡¥å°Â), and ' (æÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ). Small pockets of speakers left in Zhenning, Dafang, and Qianxi Counties. Its three dialects are Bigong, Hongfeng, and Jianshan.
- Shajing æ²ÂäºÂèÂÂæÂÂå½ÂæÂÂ仡佬æÂÂ乡: Tiele éÂÂä¹ÂæÂÂ, Dengming ç¯æÂÂæÂÂ, Huangni é»Âæ³¥æÂÂ
- Huashi Ã¥ÂÂç³, Qianxi
- Yang'er ç¾Âå¿, Qianxi
- Longjia é¾Â家寨, Zhijin
- Mengjia çÂÂæÂ¶, Puding
- Weicheng å«åÂÂéÂÂ, Qingzhen æ¸Â
éÂÂå¸Â
- Maixiang 麦巷æÂÂ, Qingzhen æ¸Â
éÂÂå¸Â
- Pingzheng å¹³æÂ£ä»¡ä½¬æÂÂ乡 (some villages, including Shibanshang ç³æÂ¿ä¸Â, also called Jianshan å°Âå±±)
- Bayang Ã¥ÂÂÃ¥Â
», Puding (extinct)
Wei (2008)
Wei Mingying (2008:45) classifies the Gelao dialects as follows.
- Duoluo å¤Âç½Â
- Vietnam White Gelao è¶Âç½
- Yueliangwan æÂÂ亮湾, Laozhai èÂÂ寨
- Judu å±Â
é½, Moji 磨åº, Wantao æ¹¾æ¡Â
- Gao 稿
- Dongkou æ´Âå£, Datiezhai æÂÂéÂÂ寨
- Xinzhai æÂ°å¯¨
- Wanzi æ¹¾åÂÂ, Dagouchang 大çÂÂåº
- Hagei Ã¥ÂÂç»Â
- Sanchong ä¸Âå², Shanbeihou å±±èÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ, Ma'ao 麻åÂÂ, Pomao å¡帽, Yangliu æÂ¨æÂ³, Tianba ç°åÂÂ, Vietnam Green Gelao è¶ÂéÂÂ
- A'ou é¿欧
- Banliwan æÂ¿æ Âæ¹¾
- Jianshan å°Âå±±, Malipo Red Gelao 麻红, Vietnam Red Gelao è¶Â红
- Hongfeng 红丰, Maixiang 麦巷, Longjiazhai é¾Â家寨, Houzitian ç´åÂÂç°
- Qiaoshang æ¡¥ä¸Â, Longli é¾ÂéÂÂ
Wei (2008: 39âÂÂ40) classifies the A'ou (Red Gelao) dialects as follows.
A'ou é¿欧æÂ¹è¨Â
- Lectal area 1 第ä¸Â次æÂ¹è¨Â
- Longjiazhai-Houzitian dialect é¾Â家寨ãÂÂç´åÂÂç°åÂÂè¯Â
- Lectal area 2 第äºÂ次æÂ¹è¨Â
- Qiaoshang dialect æ¡¥ä¸ÂÃ¥ÂÂè¯Â
- Longli dialect é¾ÂéÂÂÃ¥ÂÂè¯Â
- Bigong dialect æ¯Âè´¡åÂÂè¯Â
- Lectal area 3 第ä¸Â次æÂ¹è¨Â
- Jianshan dialect å°Âå±±åÂÂè¯Â
- Banliwan dialect æÂ¿æ Âæ¹¾åÂÂè¯Â
Wei (2008: 39) considers Houzitian ç´åÂÂç° Red Gelao to be most closely related to the Gelao variety of Longjiazhai é¾Â家寨, northern Zhijin County. There are only about 10 ethnic Gelao households in Houzitian. The Gelao speakers of "Donie" ' village, Aga Township é¿åÂÂ乡, Shuicheng County æ°´åÂÂå¿ originally migrated from Houzitian several decades ago; there are only a few elderly rememberers of that variety left.
Hsiu (2013, 2019)
Hsiu (2019) classifies the Gelao language dialects as follows.
- Gelao
- Red Gelao
- Vandu
- Vietnam (Vandu) [50 speakers]
- Malipo 麻æ Âå¡ (Uwei) [1 speaker]
- Jianshan å°Âå±± (Pumuhen) [extinct]
- Banliwan æÂ¿æ Âæ¹¾ [extinct?]
- Dingjiapo ä¸Âå å¡ (?) [extinct]
- A'ou
- Mulao [extinct]
- Majiang 麻æ±Â
- Kaili å¯éÂÂ
- 羿人 [extinct]
- Hongfeng cluster
- Hongfeng 红丰 [30 speakers]
- Qingzhen æ¸Â
é [nearly extinct]
- Shajing æ²Â亠[extinct?]
- Houzitian-Longjiazhai
- Houzitian ç´åÂÂç° [extinct?; 1 speaker as of 2012]
- Longjiazhai é¾Â家寨 [extinct?]
- Qiaoshang 桥丠[extinct?]
- Bigong æ¯Âè´¡ [30 speakers]
- Core Gelao
- Dongkou Gelao æ´Âå£ [3 speakers]
- White Gelao (Telue)
- Judu å±Â
é½ [1,000+ speakers], Moji 磨åº [5 speakers]
- Malipo 麻æ Âå¡, Vietnam
- Central Gelao
- Hakei [1,000+ speakers]
- Renhuai ä»ÂæÂÂ, Pingzheng å¹³æÂ£
- Guanling-Qinglong cluster
- Pomao å¡帽
- Sanchong ä¸Âå²
- Vietnam
- Qau [~1,000 speakers]
- Wanzi æ¹¾åÂÂ, Dagouchang 大çÂÂåº
- Xinzhai æÂ°å¯¨
An earlier classification by Hsiu (2013) classifies the Gelao dialects as follows.
- Gelao
- Red Gelao
- Border (âÂÂVanduâÂÂ)
- Malipo 麻æ Âå¡ (Uwei)
- HÃÂ Giang: Vandu, Wandei
- Renhuai: Banliwan æÂ¿æ Âæ¹¾, Jianshan å°Âå±±
- Core (Proto-Kra retroflex > spirant innovation)
- Bigong æ¯Âè´¡
- Hongfeng 红丰, Shajing æ²ÂäºÂ
- Houzitian ç´åÂÂç°
- Zhijin: Qiaoshang æ¡¥ä¸Â, Longchang é¾Âåº
- Mulao
- ' 羿人
- White Gelao
- Core
- Judu å±Â
é½
- Moji 磨åº, Wantao æ¹¾æ¡Â
- Border: Yueliangwan æÂÂ亮湾, Fengyan 峰岩, Laozhai èÂÂ寨, Vietnam White Gelao
- Central Gelao
- Hakei
- Guanling-Qinglong cluster: Ma'ao 麻åÂÂ, etc.
- Pomao å¡帽
- Qau
- Dagouchang 大çÂÂåº
- Wanzi æ¹¾åÂÂ
- Xinzhai æÂ°å¯¨
- Dongkou æ´Âå£
Phonology
Many Gelao varieties, such as Telue and Vandu, have many uvular and prenasalized consonants. Many varieties also preserve consonant clusters that have been lost in most other related languages. These consonant clusters, such as , correspond regularly with consonants in Lachi, Mulao, Qabiao (Pubiao), Buyang, and various KamâÂÂTai languages. Gelao also shares many phonological features with Bouyei and other neighboring non-Kra languages.
Tones
Gelao varieties are tonal. Tones can include level tones (' and '), rising tones (' and '), and falling tones (' and ').
Comparisons
Sound correspondences between the Liuzhi (Ã¥Â
ÂæÂÂ) and Zhenfeng (è´Â丰) varieties include:
Grammar
Like all of its surrounding languages, Gelao is a head-first, SVO language. Like Buyang, one unusual feature of Gelao is that negatives usually come at the end of a sentence. Reduplication is very common and is used for diminutive or repetitive purposes. Other common features include the use of serial verb constructions and compound nouns. Although numerals and classifiers precede nouns, adjectives (including demonstratives) always follow the noun. Function words, such as prepositions and auxiliary words, are often derived from verbs.
Like Buyang and Dong, Gelao retains many prefixes that have been lost in most other KraâÂÂDai languages. Zhang (1993:300) notes that the Moji (磨åº) Longlin dialect of White Gelao makes especially extensive use of prefixing syllables before nouns, verbs, and adjectives. These prefixes are especially important for reconstruction purposes.
Many words in Gelao are derived from vernacular Southwest Mandarin Chinese. These loanwords are often used interchangeably with native Gelao words. There is also a highly rich system of classifiers.
Gelao also has a rich set of pronouns not attested in other KraâÂÂDai languages. There are also pronouns referring to one's household in particular.
Manuscripts
In Guizhou, there are several manuscripts that have word lists of Gelao varieties written using Chinese characters.
In 2009, a book allegedly written in a native Gelao script was found in Guizhou, China, but scholarship reveals it is certainly fake.
Notes
References
Further reading
- Zhang Jimin å¼ æ¸Âæ°Â. 1993. Gelao yu yan jiu 仡佬è¯Âç Âç©¶ (A study of Gelao). Guiyang, China: Guizhou People's Press è´µå·Âæ°ÂæÂÂåºçÂÂ社.
- He Jiashan è´ºåÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ. 1983. Gelao yu jian zhi 仡佬è¯Âç®Âå¿ (A sketch of Gelao). Beijing: Ethnic Publishing House æ°ÂæÂÂåºçÂÂ社.
- RyÃ
«ichi Kosaka, Guoyan Zhou, Jinfang Li. 仡央è¯Âè¨Âè¯Âæ±ÂéÂÂ/Geyang yu yan ci hui ji. è´µé³å¸Â/Guiyang, China: è´µå·Âæ°ÂæÂÂåºçÂÂ社/Guizhou min zu chu ban she, 1998.
- æÂÂé¦è³/Li, Jinfang and å¨å½çÂÂ/Guoyan Zhou. 仡央è¯Âè¨ÂæÂ¢ç´¢/Geyang yu yan tan suo. Beijing, China: ä¸Â央æ°ÂæÂÂ大å¦åºçÂÂ社/Zhong yang min zu da xue chu ban she, 1999.
- Li Jinfang [æÂÂé¦è³]. 2006. Studies on endangered languages in the Southwest China [西åÂÂå°åºæ¿Âå±è¯Âè¨Âè°ÂæÂ¥ç Âç©¶]. Beijing: Minzu University [ä¸Â央æ°ÂæÂÂ大å¦åºçÂÂ社].
- Zhou Guoyan å¨å½çÂÂ. 2004. Gelao zu mu yu sheng tai yan jiu 仡佬æÂÂæ¯ÂèªÂçÂÂæÂÂç¡Âç©¶ (Studies on the linguistic ecology of the Gelao people). Beijing: Ethnic Publishing House
- Ostapirat, Weera (2000). "Proto-Kra". Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area 23 (1): 1âÂÂ251
- Shen Yumay. 2003. Phonology of Sanchong Gelao. M.A. Thesis, University of Texas at Arlington.
- Edmondson, J. A., & Solnit, D. B. (1988). Comparative Kadai: linguistic studies beyond Tai. Summer Institute of Linguistics publications in linguistics, no. 86. [Arlington, Tex.]: Summer Institute of Linguistics.
- Diller, Anthony, Jerold A. Edmondson, and Yongxian Luo ed. The TaiâÂÂKadai Languages. Routledge Language Family Series. Psychology Press, 2008.
- Li Xia; Li Jinfang; Luo Yongxian. 2014. A Grammar of Zoulei, Southwest China. Bern: Peter Lang AG, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften.
- Samarina, Irina Vladimirovna [áðüðÃÂøýð, ÃÂÃÂøýð ÃÂûðôøüøÃÂþòýð]. 2011. The Gelao language: materials for a Kadai comparative dictionary [ï÷ÃÂúø óÃÂûðþ: üðÃÂõÃÂøðûàú ÃÂþÿþÃÂÃÂðòøÃÂõûÃÂýþüàÃÂûþòðÃÂàúðôðùÃÂúøÃÂ
ÃÂ÷ÃÂúþ]. Moscow: Academia.
- Luo Changmu [éªÂé¿æÂ¨]. 2009. Pingzheng Gelao language [å¹³æÂ£ä»¡ä½¬è¯Â]. Pingzheng, Guizhou: Pingzheng Township Government. (Hagei Gelao dialect spoken in Tianba village ç°åÂÂæÂÂ, Pingzheng Township å¹³æÂ£ä»¡ä½¬æÂÂ乡. Gelao transcribed in pinyin.)
- Chen Xing [éÂÂÃ¥Â
´]. 2013. Gelaoyu hanzi jinyin shidu daquan [仡佬è¯Âæ±ÂÃ¥ÂÂè¿Âé³è¯Â读大åÂ
¨]. Beijing: Chinese History Press [ä¸Â彿ÂÂå²åºçÂÂ社].
- Chen Zhengjun [éÂÂæÂ£åÂÂ]. 2003. Guizhou Mulaozu lishi wenhua [è´µå·Â仫佬æÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ岿ÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ]. Guiyang: Guizhou People's Press [è´µå·Âæ°ÂæÂÂåºçÂÂ社].
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External links
Word lists