Qiang language
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| Qiang | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | Sichuan Province |
| Ethnicity | Qiang people |
| Linguistic classification | Sino-Tibetan
|
| Subdivisions | |
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | qian1264 |
 | |
Qiang (also Qiangish languages or Rma languages), called Rma (尔玛) or Rme by its speakers,[1] and formerly spelled Kʻiang, is a Sino-Tibetan language cluster of the Qiangic branch spoken by approximately 140,000 people in north-central Sichuan Province, China.
Qiang consists of:
- Northern Qiang language (a non-tonal language)
- Southern Qiang language (a tonal language)
Writing systems
[edit]Qiang Phonetic Alphabet Scheme
[edit]There have been two phonetic writing systems for Qiang commissioned by PRC authorities, both based on the Latin-script alphabet. The first design was commissioned centrally in 1958 following early PRC work on distinguishing minority ethnic groups in China, but was never officially promoted. The second system, known as the Qiang Phonetic Alphabet Scheme (羌族拼音文字方案; Qiāngzú Pīnyīn Wénzì Fāng'àn) was commissioned by the local government of Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture and the provincial Ethnic Affairs Commission (EAC) of Sichuan in 1989. The Qiang Phonetic Alphabet Scheme uses the 26 standard English alphabet letters, and is a standardised form based on the Qugu Qiang dialect, which belongs to the Northern dialect area but roughly situated at the linguistic middle point between the two dialects.[2]
The Qiang Phonetic Alphabet Scheme was completed in late 1990 and was approved for trial operation by the Sichuan provincial government in 1991, in tandem with recommending the Scheme for official approval by the National Ethnic Affairs Commission (NEAC) in 1991. In 1993, the NEAC requested the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to organise an academic review, which concluded favourably, but the NEAC only informed their approval of the scheme to the provincial EAC by telephone. The Qiang Phonetic Alphabet Scheme never ended up being officially published by the NEAC or other national authorities thereafter, although the Scheme was acknowledged as legitimate in one written report from the NEAC to the central government in 1999.[3]
In 2015, the Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County government commissioned a Qiang language graded reader for schools, which uses the Qiang Phonetic Alphabet Scheme.[4]
In 2019, a local TV station at Mao County started a weekly news programme using the Qiang language and the Latin-based alphabet.[5]
Rma script
[edit]
In 2017, Wei Jiuqiao (魏久乔) finalised their design of the Rma script.[6] There is no published information as to whether the script is compatible with both the Northern Qiang language and the Southern Qiang language or if it is only compatible with one of the languages. In 2022, preliminary proposal was made to encode this system in the Universal Character Set of Unicode.[7]
- Consonants
 b /p/ |
 p /pʰ/ |
 bb /b/ |
 m /m/ |
 f /f/ |
 w /w/ |
 wf /v/ |
 d /t/ |
 t /tʰ/ |
 dd /d/ |
 n /n/ |
 lh /ɬ/ |
 l /l/ |
 lr /lʴ/ |
 g /k/ |
 k /kʰ/ |
 gg /ɡ/ |
 ng /ŋ/ |
 h /h/ |
 hh /ɣ/ |
N/a |
 j /tɕ/ |
 q /tɕʰ/ |
 jj /dʑ/ |
 x /ɕ/ |
 xx /ʑ/ |
 y /j/ |
N/a |
 gv /q/ |
 kv /qʰ/ |
 v /χ/ |
 vh /ɦ/ |
 vv /ʁ/ |
N/a | N/a |
 z /ts/ |
 c /tsʰ/ |
 zz /dz/ |
 s /s/ |
 ss /z/ |
N/a | N/a |
 zh /tʂ/ |
 ch /tʂʰ/ |
 dh /dʐ/ |
 sh /ʂ/ |
 rr /ʐ/ |
N/a | N/a |
- Vowels
 a /a/ |
 ae /æ/ |
 ea /e/ |
 u /u/ |
 e /ə/ |
 nn /◌̃/ |
 i /i/ |
 ü /y/ |
 o /o/ |
 /ʔ/ |
 r /ʴ/ |
N/a |
Classification
[edit]Sims (2016)
[edit]Sims (2016)[8] gives the following classification for the "Qiangish" (or "Rma") languages, which include Northern Qiang and Southern Qiang. Individual dialects are highlighted in italics.
- Qiangish
- Northern Qiang ('upstream' *nu- innovation group)
- NW Heishui: Luhua 芦花镇
- Central Heishui
- Qinglang 晴朗乡
- Zhawo 扎窝乡
- Ciba 慈坝乡
- Shuangliusuo 双溜索乡
- uvular V's innovation group: Zhimulin 知木林乡, Hongyan 红岩乡, Mawo 麻窝乡
- SE Heishui: Luoduo 洛多乡, Longba 龙坝乡, Musu 木苏乡, Shidiaolou 石碉楼乡
- North Maoxian: Taiping 太平乡, Songpinggou 松坪沟乡
- South Songpan: Xiaoxing 小姓乡, Zhenjiangguan 镇江关乡, Zhenping 镇坪乡
- West Maoxian / South Heishui: Weigu 维古乡, Waboliangzi 瓦钵乡梁子, Se'ergu 色尔古镇, Ekou, Weicheng 维城乡, Ronghong, Chibusu 赤不苏镇, Qugu 曲谷乡 [basis for written language], Wadi 洼底乡, Baixi 白溪乡, Huilong 回龙乡, Sanlong 三龙乡
- Central Maoxian: Heihu 黑虎乡
- SE Maoxian (reflexive marker innovation): Goukou 沟口乡, Yonghe 永和乡
- Southern Qiang (perfective agreement suffixes innovation group)
Sun, Liu & Huang (2024)
[edit]Sun, Liu & Huang (2024) list the following dialects of Southern Qiang and Northern Qiang.[9]
| Region | Dialect | Distribution | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern | Daqishan (大岐山) | Li County (理县): Xuecheng (薛城), Shangmeng (上孟), Xiameng (下孟), Xinglong (兴龙), Ganbao (甘堡), Liedai (列歹), Jiuzi (九子), Muka (木卡), Putou (朴头), Puxi (蒲溪), etc. | 7,400 |
| Southern | Taoping (桃坪) | Li County (理县): Taoping (桃坪), Jiashan (佳山), Ganxi (甘溪), Sancha (三叉), Zengtou (曾头), Niushan (牛山), Xishang (西商), Tonghua (通化), Gucheng (古城), etc. | 4,900 |
| Southern | Longxi (龙溪) | Wenchuan County (汶川县): Longxi (龙溪), Bulan (布兰), Baduo (巴夺), Xiazhuang (下庄), Mushang (木上), etc. | 3,300 |
| Southern | Miansi (绵虒) | Wenchuan County (汶川县): areas within Wenchuan County (汶川县) other than where the Longxi dialect (龙溪土语) is spoken | 15,700 |
| Southern | Goukou (沟口)–Weimen (渭门) | Mao County (茂县): Heihu (黑虎), Sujiaping (苏加坪), Feihong (飞虹), Goukou (沟口), Weimen (渭门), Jiaoyuanping (椒园坪), etc. | 16,000 |
| Southern | Sanlong (三龙) | Mao County (茂县): Fengyi (凤仪), Sanlong (三龙), Shaba (沙坝), Huilong (回龙), Baixi (白溪), Wadi (洼底), Yazhuzhai (雅珠寨), etc. | 15,000 |
| Southern | Zhenjiangguan (镇江关) | Mao County (茂县): Jiaochang (较场), Shidaguan (石大关), Taiping (太平), Songpinggou (松坪沟), etc.; the area west of Zhenjiangguan (镇江关) in Songpan County (松潘县) and some areas in Beichuan County (北川县) | 19,000 |
| Northern | Yadu (雅都) | Mao County (茂县): Chibusu (赤不苏), Yadu (雅都), Qugu (曲谷), Weicheng (维城) 以及 Heishui County (黑水县): Waboliangzi (瓦钵梁子), Se'ergu (色尔古), etc. | 23,000 |
| Northern | Weigu (维古) | Heishui County (黑水县): Weigu (维古), Musu (木苏), Longba (龙坝), Luoduo (洛多), Shidiaolou (石碉楼), etc. | 11,000 |
| Northern | Mawo (麻窝) | Heishui County (黑水县): Mawo (麻窝), Zhawo (扎窝), Shuangliusuo (双溜索), Xi'er (西尔), Hongyan (红岩), E'en (俄恩), etc. | 12,000 |
| Northern | Cimulin (茨木林) | Heishui County (黑水县): Cimulin (茨木林), Gewo (格窝), Wumushu (乌木树), Rewo (热窝), Qinglanggou (晴朗沟), etc. | 9,800 |
| Northern | Luhua (芦花) | Heishui County (黑水县): Luhua (芦花), Shashiduo (沙石多), Yangrong (羊茸), Zegai (泽盖), Ergulu (二古鲁), Zhuogedu (卓格都), etc. | 14,000 |
The following Qiang dialects are documented in the comparative vocabulary table section of Sun, Liu & Huang (2024).[9]
- Daqishan (大岐山)
- Taoping (桃坪); Zengtou (曾头)
- Longxi (龙溪)
- Miansi (绵虒); Suoqiao (索桥)
- Goukou (沟口); Heihu (黑虎); Longchi (龙池)
- Sanlong (三龙)
- Qugu (曲谷)
- Yadu (雅都)
- Weigu (维古); Longba (龙坝); Musu (木苏)
- Cimulin (茨木林)
- Zhawo (扎窝); Mawo (麻窝)
- Luhua (芦花); Yangrong (羊茸)
- Songpan (松潘)
Vocabulary
[edit]Autonyms (自称) by Qiang dialect, as well as the word for 'person, human being' (人):[9]
| Dialect | autonym (Qiang) | person |
|---|---|---|
| Dàqíshān (大岐山) | ʁma⁵³ | mə³¹tsɿ⁵³ |
| Táopíng (桃坪) | χma³³ | mə³³ |
| Zēngtóu (曾头) | χmɑ⁵⁵ | mə³³ |
| Lóngxī (龙溪) | mɑ⁵⁵ | mu³¹ |
| Miánchí (绵篪) | mɑ³¹ | ma⁵³ |
| Suǒqiáo (索桥) | ʐmi³¹ | ɦmə³¹ |
| Gōukǒu (沟口) | mɤ⁵⁵ | tʂe³³tʂy⁵⁵ |
| Hēihǔ (黑虎) | məʴ⁵⁵ | ba³³fə⁵⁵ |
| Lóngchí (龙池) | ʐme⁵⁵ | mi⁵⁵ |
| Sānlóng (三龙) | ʐme⁵⁵ | mi⁵⁵ |
| Qūgǔ (曲谷) | ɹme | mi |
| Yǎdū (雅都) | ʐme | mi |
| Wéigǔ (维古) | rma | mi |
| Lóngbà (龙坝) | rma | mi |
| Mùsū (木苏) | rma | mi |
| Címùlín (茨木林) | rme | nə |
| Zhāwō (扎窝) | rma | nə |
| Máwō (麻窝) | rma | nə |
| Lúhuā (芦花) | rme | na |
| Yángróng (羊茸) | rme | ȵə |
| Sōngpān (松潘) | ɣmep | ȵi |
A few basic body part words:
| Dialect | eye | nose | ear | hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dàqíshān (大岐山) | mi⁴² | χmə³ ~χəm̩³³ pa⁵⁵qa³¹ | n̥³³ke⁵⁵ | i⁵⁵ |
| Táopíng (桃坪) | mi⁵⁵ | xni³¹qo⁵⁵pə³³ | ni³¹ke³³ | i³³ |
| Zēngtóu (曾头) | mi⁵⁵ | xni³¹qo⁵⁵pə³³ | ni³¹kie⁵⁵ | i⁵⁵ |
| Lóngxī (龙溪) | ni⁵⁵mɑ⁵⁵to³¹ | ti³³pɑ⁵⁵pi³³ | ni³³qɑ⁵⁵ | li³³pɑ⁵⁵ |
| Miánchí (绵篪) | ma³³tie⁵⁵ | n̩³³qo⁵⁵pə³³ | nə³¹ka⁵⁵ | i³³pɑ⁵⁵ |
| Suǒqiáo (索桥) | mi⁵⁵ | ɕi³¹qə⁵⁵ | niu³¹ku⁵⁵ | li³¹ |
| Gōukǒu (沟口) | mi⁵⁵ | tɑ³³kɑp⁵⁵ | nɤʂ³³ke⁵⁵ | ʐi⁵⁵pɑ⁵⁵ |
| Hēihǔ (黑虎) | mi⁵⁵mi⁵⁵ | stə³³pɑʴq⁵⁵ | nə⁵⁵ku̥ə̥⁵⁵ | dʐɑ³³pɑ⁵⁵ |
| Lóngchí (龙池) | mi⁵⁵mi⁵⁵ | ɕtiq⁵⁵ | niuk⁵⁵ | lɑ³³pɑ⁵⁵ |
| Sānlóng (三龙) | mi⁵⁵mi⁵⁵ | stə⁵⁵pɑq⁵⁵ | nə⁵⁵ku̥ə̥³¹ | iɑ³³pɑ⁵⁵ |
| Qūgǔ (曲谷) | – | stuətsqɑp | nəku̥ə̥ | iɑpɑ |
| Yǎdū (雅都) | mei | ɕtɕyəs | nə⁵⁵ku̥ə̥ | ipɑ |
| Wéigǔ (维古) | meː | ʂtʂəq | ȵiku̥ə̥ | iːpɑ |
| Lóngbà (龙坝) | mei | ʂəq | ȵi⁵⁵ku̥ə̥ | ipɑ |
| Mùsū (木苏) | me | ʂtʂəq | nəku̥ə̥ | ɿəpɑ |
| Címùlín (茨木林) | qən | stəqə | nəku̥ə̥ | dʐipɑ |
| Zhāwō (扎窝) | qən | stəq | nəku‘ | dʐapɑ |
| Máwō (麻窝) | qən | stɤq | nəku̥ə̥ | dʒəpɑ |
| Lúhuā (芦花) | qən | stəq | nəku̥ | dʒəpɑ |
| Yángróng (羊茸) | qəȵə | stəndʐʉ | ȵək uə | dʒəpɑ |
| Sōngpān (松潘) | miȵi | xtəq | ȵuku̥ | lapa |
Reconstruction
[edit]Sims (2017)[10] reconstructs tones for Proto-Rma (alternatively called Proto-Qiangish), proposing that the lack of tones in Northern Qiang is due to Tibetan influence. High tones and low tones are reconstructed for Proto-Rma, as well as for Proto-Prinmi.
References
[edit]- ^ Wen, Maotao (2014). The Creation of the Qiang Ethnicity, its Relation to the Rme People and the Preservation of Rme Language (Master's thesis). Duke University.
- ^ 韦学纯 (2017). 地域社会深描：藏羌彝走廊研究新视角 (in Simplified Chinese). 北京: Social Sciences Literature Press. pp. 224–255. ISBN 978-7-5201-0918-5.
- ^ 宝乐日 (2007). 土族、羌族语言及新创文字在学校教育领域使用发展研究 (Ph.D. thesis) (in Simplified Chinese). Minzu University of China. pp. 45–47. doi:10.7666/d.y1050017.
- ^ 汤小均 (2009-05-11). "迄今最系统的《羌族语言文字》读本将进北川校园" (in Simplified Chinese). 成都商报 – via 中新网.
- ^ 茂县融媒体中心 (2019-10-15). "首档羌族母语电视新闻节目《羌语周报》正式开播" (in Simplified Chinese). 阿坝新闻网 – via 搜狐.
- ^ 传承羌语，支持尔玛文 Support the Rma Script of the Qiang (Rma) Language. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2019-10-28 – via Youtube.
- ^ Chan, Eiso; Jiuqiao, Wei; Sims, Nathaniel (June 6, 2022). "Preliminary proposal to encode Rma script to UCS" (PDF). Unicode.org. International Organization for Standardization. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
- ^ Sims, Nathaniel (2016). "Towards a More Comprehensive Understanding of Qiang Dialectology" (PDF). Language and Linguistics. 17 (3): 351–381. doi:10.1177/1606822X15586685. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2018-06-03.
- ^ a b c Sūn, Hóngkāi; Liú, Guāngkūn; Huáng, Chénglóng [孙宏开，刘光坤，黄成龙] (2024). Qiāngyǔ fāngyán yánjiū [羌语方言研究]. China Social Sciences Academy Press [中国社会科学出版社]. ISBN 9787522741789.
- ^ Sims, Nathaniel (2017). The Suprasegmental Phonology of Proto-Rma (Qiang) in Comparative Perspective. Presented at the 50th International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Languages and Linguistics, Beijing, November 26, 2017.
Bibliography
[edit]- Bradley, David (1997). "Tibeto-Burman Languages and Classification" (PDF). In Bradley, D. (ed.). Papers in South East Asian Linguistics No. 14: Tibeto-Burman Languages of the Himalayas. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. pp. 1–72. ISBN 0-85883-456-1.
- Evans, Jonathan P. (2006). "Vowel Quality in Hongyan Qiang" (PDF). Language and Linguistics. 7 (4): 731–754. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-11-14. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
- Huáng, Chénglóng; Wáng, Bǎofēng; Máo, Míngjūn; Zhāng, Xī [黄成龙，王保锋，毛明军，张曦] (2019). Sìchuān Sōngpān Qiāngyǔ [四川松潘羌语]. Beijing: Commercial Press [商务印书馆].
- LaPolla, Randy J. (2003). A Grammar of Qiang: With Annotated Texts and Glossary. with Chenglong Huang. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110197273. ISBN 3-11-017829-X.
Further reading
[edit]- Wuxi, Zheng (2017). A Grammar of Longxi Qiang. LINCOM Studies in Asian Linguistics. Vol. 86. LINCOM Europe. ISBN 9783862888313.