Alternate Names: Santa, Tung, Tunghsiang
Dialects: Sijiaji, Suonanba (Xiaonan), Wangjiaji. Some intelligibility with Bonan ,. Minor dialect differences in pronunciation and borrowed words. Suonanba considered the standard.
Status Notes: Language of recognized nationality: Dongxiang.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 200,000 (Bradley 2007). Half in Suonanba dialect. 80,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 514,000 (Bradley 2007).
Language Use: Shifting to Chinese. Home, religion, local commerce, oral tradition. Positive attitudes. Written Chinese in common use.
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 12%. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar.
Typology: SOV; no vowel harmony or vowel length distinction; rich in consonants including uvulars; case marking.
Nation of Origin: China
Other Comments: 30% of vocabulary borrowed from Chinese. Muslim (Sunni).