Limi language

Limi (autonym: li33 mi33) is a Loloish language spoken in Yongde, Fengqing, and Yun counties of western Yunnan province, China.

Distribution

Limi is spoken in the following locations.

Yang (2017) 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.

Classification

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

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.

References

  • Wang, Xingzhong 王兴中; Zhao, Weihua 赵卫华 (2013). Líncāng dìlǐ yǔ shuāngyǔ shǐyòng 临沧地理与双语使用 [Geography and Multilingualism in Lincang] (in Chinese). Kunming: Yunnan renmin chubanshe. ISBN 978-7-222-08581-7.
  • Yang, Cathryn, Limi Wordlist – via Academia.edu.


Uses material from the Wikipedia article Limi language, released under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.