Rawang

Dialects: Daru-Jerwang, Khrangkhu/Thininglong (Southern Lungmi), Kyaikhu (Dangraq-Mashang, Northern Lungmi), Matwang, Tangsar East (Changgong), Tangsar West (Langdaqgong, Renyinchi), Thaluq. Most reportedly understand Matwang, a central, written dialect. Part of a chain of related varieties with the Drung , people of Nu nationality in China. Dialects near Tibet border more divergent. Lungmi varieties of Mashang and Dangraq are especially divergent. Rawang speakers from the Kunglang variety of Daru live in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Some Rawang dialects, especially Kyaikhu Lungmi and Changgong Tangsar, have less intelligibility with the standard written dialect of Matwang. Anong (Khingpang) , and Drung (Thrung) , are related to Rawang and are sometimes included as Rawang varieties (Morse 1989). Lexical similarity: 82%–99% among Matwang-related dialects. Lexical similarity between Matwan and the following varieties or languages: 74% with Drung ,, 79%–80% with Anong ,, 81%–87% with Renyinchi (Langdaqgong Tangsar), 77% with Changgong Tangsar, 74%–85% with Lungmi, 74%–80% with Daru-Jerwang.

Status Notes: Matwang dialect is L2 or church language used by other dialect speakers.

Demographics: 62,000 in Myanmar (2000). Population total all countries: 63,000.

Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. Rawang literature used mainly in church. All ages. Positive attitudes. Most young people also use Burmese [mya]. Also use Jingpho [kac], Lisu [lis]. Used as L2 by Drung [duu], Lisu [lis].

Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 30%–60%. Literacy rate in L2: 75%–100%. Older generation is more literate in Rawang; younger generation literacy rate in Rawang is declining. Magazines. Newspapers. Grammar. Bible: 1986.

Typology: SOV.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Myanmar

Other Comments: Glossonym: Kiutze or Qiuze by Chinese, Ch’opa by Lisu. Traditionally, Rawang is made up of five major clan divisions (plus subclans): Lungmi, Matwang, Daru-Jerwang, Tangsar, and Anong , (Morse 1989). Christian.