Limi language

Last updated
Limi
Liumi
Native toChina
Region Yunnan
Native speakers
29,000 (2002) [1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3 ylm
Glottolog limi1243

Limi (autonym: li33mi33) [2] is a Loloish language spoken in Yongde, Fengqing, and Yun counties of western Yunnan province, China.

Contents

Distribution

Limi is spoken in the following locations. [3]

Yang (2017) [2] reports that Limi is spoken by about 20,000 people in Yongde, Fengqing, and Yun counties. Limi speakers make up 70% of the 26,000 people living in Wumulong Township (乌木龙乡), Yongde County, Yunnan. About 2,600 members of a nearby ethnic group called "Luo" (倮族) (likely Lolopo) also live in and around Wumulong. [2]

Classification

Limi is likely most closely related to Lolopo, but also has many Lalo loanwords. [2]

History

Limi speakers likely migrated from Jingdong County during the early 1300s, first arriving in Bangmai Village (邦卖/班卖), Fengqing County, and then later migrating to Wumulong Township, Yongde County. [2]

References

  1. Limi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Yang, Cathryn (2017). "Introducing Limi: A Rising Tone Is Born". In Ding, Picus Sizhi; Pelkey, Jamin (eds.). Sociohistorical Linguistics in Southeast Asia: New Horizons for Tibeto-Burman Studies in Honor of David Bradley. Leiden: Brill. pp. 75–95. ISBN   978-90-04-35051-9 via Academia.edu.
  3. "China". Asian Harvest. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2013-07-19.