Language Information by Source

The Namuyi: Linguistic and Cultural Features

Libu Lakhi, Brook Hefright and Kevin Stuart. 2007. "The Namuyi: Linguistic and Cultural Features." In Asian Folklore Studies, 66: Nanzan University.

Endangered
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
5,000
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends

Speaker Number Trend 3

Only about half of community members speak the language. Speaker numbers are decreasing steadily, but not at an accelerated pace.

3
Domains of Use

Domain Of Use 3

Used mainly in the home and/or with family, but remains the primary language of these domains for many community members.

3
Transmission

Transmission 2

Most adults in the community are speakers, but children generally are not.

2

Speakers

Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
No results found.
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
EXCERPT FROM SOURCE (p. 241): When [the first author's family] was asked why they insisted on speaking Nuosu to family members, they replied, "It is stupid to speak such a useless language as Namuyi these days. We have to communicate with our Nuosu friends in Nuosu. There are only a very few people who speak Namuyi. It's just like walking off a cliff with your eyes closed if you only speak Namuyi and refuse to speak Nuosu." When the author asked why their two seven year-old children only spoke and understood Chinese, they replied, "Who doesn't want their kids to find a good job, settle down, and have a comfortable family life? We should have our kids learn Chinese to help them find a job, shouldn't we?"

Location and Context

Countries
China
Location Description

Sichuan Province, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Four villages (named in this source): (1) Xichang City, Minsheng Township 民勝鄉, Dashui Village 大水村, dʐə¹¹qu¹¹ community; (2) Xichang City, Xiangshui Township 響水鄉, Xiangshui Village 響水村, dʑa⁵³qa⁵³tu¹¹ community; (3) Mianning County, Zeyuan Township 泽遠鄉, Dongfeng Village 東風村, ɕa¹¹ma¹¹kʰu⁵³ community; (4) Mianning County, Shaba Town 沙垻镇, Laoya Village 老鴉村, ʂa⁴⁴pa⁵³ community.

Government Support
No results found.
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
No results found.
Other Languages Used By The Community
Nuosu, Chinese, and Tibetan
Number of Other Language Speakers:
most
Domains of Other Languages:
None

Writing Systems

Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
none
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
The form 'Namuyi' is a transliteration of a Chinese-character rendering of the word na⁵³mʑi⁵³ (Namuyi 納木依, Namuyi 納木義, or Namuzi 納木兹).

In dʐə¹¹qu¹¹, only about 10 percent of the population reads Chinese, two percent reads Nuosu, and only one reads Tibetan.

Community Members