Alternate Names: Black Miao, Central Miao, Chientung Miao, East Guizhou Miao, Gha Ne, Gha Ne Dlai, Heh Miao, Hei Miao, Hmu, Northern East Guizhou Miao, Northern Hmu
Dialects: Inherently unintelligible of other Miao varieties. Corresponds more or less to Ma’s Central Miao and Purnell’s Eastern Miao. At least 4 dialects (vernaculars). The official standard variety of Qiandong Miao is based on Yanghao, but with some similarities to other varieties. A member of macrolanguage Hmong ,.
Status Notes: Language of recognized nationality: Miao.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 1,250,000 (Wang Fushi and Mao Zhongwu 1995), decreasing.
Language Use: Most domains. All ages. Youth move to the city and abandon more of their culture and language. Positive attitudes in countryside; neutral to negative attitudes in city. Children often learn standard Mandarin [cmn] in school, but speak Miao at home.
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Low. Literacy rate in L2: Many literate in Chinese [cmn], but many older women are illiterate. Large-scale literacy programs stopped but supportive attitude toward literacy promoters. Taught in primary schools. A few village schools still use Miao to teach Mandarin. 1 or 2 offer Miao classes. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1934.
Nation of Origin: China
Other Comments: Traditional religion.