Axi language

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Axi
Axipo
Native toChina
EthnicityYi
Native speakers
100,000 (2007)[1]
Sino-Tibetan
  • Southeastern
    • Sani–Azha
      • Axi
Language codes
ISO 639-3yix
Glottologaxiy1235

Axi (Chinese: 阿细 Axi; Ahi; autonym: ɑ21 ɕi55 pʰo21) is one of the Loloish languages spoken by the Yi people of China. The Axi are one of the main linguistic sub-branches of Yi, and the Axi tiaoyue is a dance of the Axi speaking Yi people accompanied by the sanhu.[2]

Axi is spoken in Mile, Shilin, Kunming, Luxi, and Huaning counties by about 110,000 speakers.[3]

Dialects

Wu (2014) divides Axi into three dialects and also provides word lists for each of the three dialects.[4]

  • The Western dialect 西阿土语 (approximately 75,000 speakers) is spoken in Mile (in Xishan 西山, Dongshan 东山, Midong 弥东, Jiangbian 江边, Buqi 补七); Qiubei (some areas), Lunan, Luxi, Huaning counties, etc.
  • The Yanshan dialect 砚阿土语 (approximately 72,000 speakers) is spoken in Yanshan, Qiubei (some areas), Wenshan counties, etc.
  • The Kunming dialect 昆阿土语 (approximately 23,000 speakers) is spoken in Kunming (Xishan, in Shuangshao 双哨; Anning); Luquan, Wuding counties, etc.

Phonology

Axi consonants[5]
Labial Alveolar Alveolo-
palatal
Retroflex Velar
plain sibilant plain sibilant
Nasal m
n
ŋ
Plosive/
Affricate
voiceless p
t
t͡s t͡ɕ ʈ t͡ʂ k
aspirated t͡sʰ t͡ɕʰ ʈʰ t͡ʂʰ
voiced b
d
d͡z d͡ʑ ɖ d͡ʐ ɡ
Continuant voiceless f
ɬ
s ɕ ʂ x
voiced v
l
z ʑ ʐ ɣ
Axi vowels[5]
Front Central Back
unrd.
rnd.
Close i, ɯ, ɯ̰ u,
Mid e, o,
Open-mid ɛ, ɛ̰
Open a,
Syllabic consonant ɹ̪̩, ɹ̪̰̩

See also

References

  1. ^ Axi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ 李勇翔 中国少数民族音乐 2006 "彝族三胡彝族三胡是彝族特有的弓弦乐器。云南彝族的两大支系"撒尼"与"阿细"人的民间乐舞"阿细跳月"常用此乐器演奏。"
  3. .
  4. ^ a b https://stedt.berkeley.edu/pubs_and_prods/STEDT_Monograph3_Phonological-Inv-TB.pdf Phonological inventories of Tibeto-Burman languages. Ju, Namkung, 1996, ISBN 0-944613-28-4, Page 6.