Alternate Names: Labbu, Minchia, Minjia, Minkia, Nama, Pai
Dialects: Eryuan, Heqing, Jianchuan, Lanping, Yunlong.
Status Notes: Language of recognized nationality: Bai.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 800,000 (2003 census). Ethnic population: 800,000.
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. A few also speak Naxi [nxq]. Also use Anong [nun], Lisu [lis], Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Used as L2 by Lisu [lis], Naxi [nxq], Northern Pumi [pmi], Southern Pumi [pmj], Zaiwa [atb], Zauzou [zal].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 0%. Literacy rate in L2: 70%. 1 experimental program. Poetry. Radio programs. Dictionary.
Typology: SVO; attributives precede noun heads; number classifier constructions follow noun heads; tense-lax vowel distinction; tonal, 5 to 8 tones.
Writing System: Han (Hanzi), Han (Kanji), Han (Hanja), Latin (Pinyin-based)
Nation of Origin: China
Other Comments: Classification difficult due to heavy borrowing (60%–70%) from Chinese. Considered genetically related to Chinese, or a mixed language with Chinese, or an independent branch of Tibeto-Burman. Traditional religion, Buddhist, Daoist.