Alternate Names: Ch’rame, Pimi, P’ömi, Primmi, P’rome, Pruumi, P’umi
Dialects: Taoba. 4 other dialects. Intelligibility of Southern Pumi , is low. Lexical similarity: between Northern Pumi and Southern Pumi , is 60%, grammatical differences minor.
Status Notes: Language of recognized nationality: Tibetan.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 35,000 (1999). 5,000 in Pumi nationality, 30,000 in Tibetan nationality (1994). 10,000 monolinguals.
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Central Bai [bca], Central Tibetan [bod], Lipo [lpo], Lisu [lis], Mandarin Chinese [cmn], Narua [nru], Naxi [nxq]. Used as L2 by Namuyi [nmy], Narua [nru], Shixing [sxg].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 0%. Literacy rate in L2: 70% for Pumi nationality (2000 census). Trial use in 1 school. Poetry. Grammar.
Nation of Origin: China
Other Comments: Traditional religion, Buddhist (Lamaist).