Alternate Names: Lawa, Lua, Mbi, Mibisu, Misu, Pin
Dialects: Dakao, Huaipa, Lanmeng. Reportedly similar to Mpi , and Pyen ,. Lexical similarity: 36% with Hani ,, 32% with Lahu ,, 31% with Lisu ,.
Status Notes: Language of recognized nationality: Hani.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 240 in China (Xu Shixuan 2005). 0 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 240.
Language Use: Home, village. Positive attitudes. Also use Hani [hni], Lahu [lhu], Lü [khb], Mandarin Chinese [cmn].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 70%. Grammar. Bible portions: 2009–2011.
Typology: SVO; simple syllable structure; certain obstruent onsets may be prenasalized, aspirated, or palatalized, but otherwise no consonant clusters; syllables may be closed by stop or nasal; 3 tones, tone sandhi; words have 1 or 2 syllables; modifiers follow heads; loanwords from Dai and Chinese.
Writing System: Latin, Thai
Nation of Origin: China
Other Comments: Others officially classified as Undetermined Nationality. Some view Bisu as an important link to their culture and hope to preserve it. Traditional religion.