Xibe language

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Xibe
[ɕivə][1]
Spoken in: China 
Region: Xinjiang
Total speakers: 30,000
Language family: Altaic[2] (disputed)
 Tungusic
  Southern
   Southwestern
    Xibe
Language codes
ISO 639-1: none
ISO 639-2: sjo
ISO 639-3: sjo

The Xibe language (also Sibo language, Xibo language) is a language of the Tungusic family spoken by members of the Xibe ethnic group in Xinjiang. It is intercomprehensible with the closely-related Manchu language;[3] however, unlike Manchu, Xibe language is reported to have eight vowel distinctions as opposed to the six found in Manchu, differences in morphology, and a more complex system of vowel harmony. The general vocabulary and structure of Xibe has not been affected as much by Chinese as Manchu has. However, there are a number of Chinese loanwords, and a large body of sociological terminology, such as gəming (revolution) and gungshə (commune), have been borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the everyday vocabulary of the language. The language uses the Xibe script, a slightly revised version of the Manchu script.[4]

Xibe is taught as a second language by the Yili Teachers' College in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of northern Xinjiang.[5]

Contents

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Li 1986: 1
  2. ^ Gordon, 2005 (Altaic)
  3. ^ Gordon 2005: Xibe
  4. ^ Ramsey 1989: 215-216
  5. ^ YLTC 2006: [1]

[edit] References

  • Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.) (2005). Ethnologue: Languages of the World. Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Retrieved on 2006-12-19. 
  • Li, Shulan (1984). 锡伯语口语研究 (Research into Xibo oral language). Beijing, China: Nationalities Publishing House. 
  • Li, Shulan (1986). 锡伯语简志 (Outline of the Xibo language). Beijing, China: Nationalities Publishing House. 
  • Ramsey, S. Robert (1989). The Languages of China. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. 
  • 伊犁师范学院中语系. Yili Teachers' College Department of Chinese Languages (2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-26.

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links

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Tungusic languages
Northern
Even | Evenki | Manegir | Negidal | Oroqen | Solon
Southern
Southeastern: Akani | Birar | Kile | Nanai | Oroch
Orok | Samagir | Udege | Ulch
Southwestern: Jurchen | Manchu | Xibe
Languages