Alternate Names: Ban Yao, Highland Yao, Mian, Mien, Myen, Pan Yao, Yao, Yiu Mien, Youmian
Dialects: Guoshan Yao. Dialects may not be intelligible. Biao Mon , may be a dialect of Iu Mien. Differences from other Mienic languages are in the tone system, consonants, vowel quality, vowel length. Chinese linguists consider the Iu Mien spoken in Changdong, Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County, Guangxi to be the standard. May be most similar to Mandarin Chinese ,. Lexical similarity: 78% with Kim Mun ,, 70% with Biao-Jiao Mien ,, 61% with Dzao Min ,.
Status Notes: Language of recognized nationality: Yao.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 383,000 in China (Wang Fushi and Mao Zhongwu 1995). Population total all countries: 819,800.
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Adults also use Chinese [zho]. Used as L2 by Chadong [cdy], Hlai [lic], Jiongnai Bunu [pnu], Lakkia [lbc].
Language Development: Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2008.
Typology: Tonal, 7 tones.
Writing System: Han (Hanzi), Han (Kanji), Han (Hanja), Lao, Latin, Thai
Nation of Origin: China
Other Comments: Ethnic groups: Hua Lan, Hua, Hung, Cao Long, Coc, Khoc, Quan Coc, Quan Trang, Son Trang, Sung, Tien (Tiao Tchaine), Yaya. The Lakkia, Mun, Bunu languages, plus speakers of other Mienic and Hmongic languages, and ethnic Yao who speak Chinese, are officially classified within Yao nationality in China. Pingdi Yao (Piongtuojo, Piongtoajeu) is a variety of Chinese with 1,000,000 speakers, half of whom are members of Yao nationality, Guangdong Province, Hunan-Guangxi border. Daoist, traditional religion.