Naruo language

Naruo is a group of languages spoken by the Yi people in Yunnan, China. It is part of the Loloish language family and is sometimes also called Naluo, Laluo, Alu, or Gan Yi. The Yi people are one of the many cultural groups in China, and their languages are an important part of their heritage. Understanding Naruo helps us learn about the rich diversity of languages and cultures around the world.

Classification

The Naruo language is considered part of the Northern Loloish language group by Ethnologue. However, a study by Yang and others in 2017 suggests it belongs to the Taloid language family instead.

Both ways of classifying Naruo help us understand how it relates to other languages spoken in the area.

Demographics

The Naruo language is spoken by around 15,000 people. Most of these speakers live in eastern Yongsheng County and southern Huaping County in Yunnan, China. Some speakers also live in Pingjiang and Futian townships in western Panzhihua City, Sichuan. The language is in danger of disappearing in Sichuan and is also at risk in Yunnan.

Varieties

The Naruo language is spoken by several groups of the Yi people in parts of China. In Yongsheng County, it is spoken by groups such as Zhili, Luo, and Zi Yi. Other areas where Naruo is spoken include parts of Huaping County.

Lopi, also known as Shuitian, is nearly no longer used, even though many people belong to this group in places like Panzhihua in Sichuan and northern Yunnan. Some other varieties of Naruo are spoken by thousands of people in these areas.