Alternate Names: Wutong, Wutun
Status Notes: Language of recognized nationality: Tu.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 2,000 (1995).
Typology: SOV; adjectives follow nouns; adverbials precede predicate; case and number marked on nouns; prenasalized consonants; 11 different syllable-final consonants; tone and stress have low functional load; most words polysyllabic; 60% Chinese, 20% Tibetan vocabulary with the rest having mixed Chinese and Tibetan elements.
Nation of Origin: China
Other Comments: A variety of Chinese heavily influenced by Tibetan or perhaps a Tibetan language undergoing relexification with Chinese forms. Also described as Chinese which converged to an agglutinative language, Tibetan or Mongolian, using only Chinese material. Neighboring Tibetans refer to the Wutun people use ethnonym: Sanggaixiong, center of the lion. Known for their paintings of Buddha. Buddhist (Lamaist).