Hani Language - Dialects

Dialects

In China, Akha and other related languages are considered varieties of Hani; they are closely related but not easily intelligible. The group is called Akha–Hani when a distinction is made. In 2007 there were almost 1.5 million speakers of all Akha–Hani varieties, and 760,000 speakers of Hani proper.

According to Bradley (1997), and as grouped in Lama (2012), the principal dialects of Hani are:

• Ha-Ya
  • Akha AKA Yani (ritual autonym: za˨˩ni˨˩): 550,000 speakers (250,000 in China, 220,000 in Burma, 35,000 in northern Thailand, 35,000 in northern Laos)
  • Hani (autonym: xa˨˩ni˨˩): 520,000 speakers in south-central Yunnan, and 12,500 speakers in Vietnam
• Hao-Bai
  • Haoni AKA Honi (autonym: xɒ˨˩ni˨˩): 120,000 speakers
  • Baihong: 60,000 speakers