Xiandao

Facts

  • Language: Xiandao
  • Alternate names: Xiandaohua, Chintaw, Xiantao, 仙島話
  • Language code: acn
  • Language family: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Ngwi-Burmese, Burmish, Northern (SIL classification)
  • Number of speakers: 40
  • Vulnerability: Endangered
  • Script: Latin script.

More information:

    Officially classified within Achang nationality in China. Mingled with Lashi (See: [[Lashi]]). Traditional religion, Buddhist (Hinayana).

    "Because of lack of documentation prior to 1980, the Xiandao people were incldued in the unclassified national minority category. Since 1980 they have been classified as a part of the Achang nationality. Xiandao people don't agree with this classification; they believe they are different from Achang and should be an independent group.However, the Xiandao language is genetically very close to the Achang language. ..." (Tsung and Dai 2005:179)