Alternate Names: Bu’erci, Bu’erzi, Bu’erzi Ersu, Doxu, Duoxu, Erhsu, Lizu, Lusu, T’osu
Dialects: Duoxu (Central Ersu), Ersu (Eastern Ersu), Lisu (Liru, Lüzü, Western Ersu).
Status Notes: Language of recognized nationality: Tibetan.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 20,000 (Shearer and Sun Hong Kai 2002), decreasing. Eastern Ersu (Ersu) 13,000, Central Ersu (Duoxu) 10 or less, Western Ersu (Lizu) 4,000.
Language Use: Decreasing from language attrition. Mainly older adults. Neutral attitudes. 400 also use Lipo [lpo]. 8,000 also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Used as L2 by Namuyi [nmy].
Language Development: About 10 people can read the Shaba script. Poetry. Videos. Dictionary.
Typology: SOV; adjectives and number-classifier constructions follow noun heads; consonant cluster onsets; most morphemes monosyllabic; 2 tones, word-template zone.
Writing System: Ersu Shaba Picture Writing
Nation of Origin: China
Other Comments: Traditional religion.