Native speakers 240 in China (2005) ISO 639-3 bzi | Ethnicity 700 in Thailand (2007) Writing system Thai script | |
Language family Sino-Tibetan(Tibeto-Burman)Lolo–BurmeseLoloishHanoishBisoidPhunoi–BisuBisu | ||
Bisu (Chinese: 毕苏语) is a Loloish language of Thailand, with a couple thousand speakers in China. Varieties are Bisu proper (Mbisu) and Laomian (Guba), considered by Pelkey to be distinct languages.
The Laomian are classified within the Lahu ethnic group; the Lahu proper call them the "Lawmeh" (Bradley 2007).
Distribution
According to Bisuyu Yanjiu 毕苏语研究 (2002), there are over 5,000 Bisu speakers in Yunnan, China, and a total of nearly 10,000 Bisu speakers in all countries combined. Within Yunnan, it is spoken mostly in Pu'er Prefecture, as well as neighboring parts of Xishuangbanna.
In Thailand, two dialects of Bisu are spoken in the following villages of Phan District, Phayao Province (Bisuyu Yanjiu 2002:152).
Another variety of Bisu differing from the Phayao variety is spoken in Takɔ (Ban Thako), Mae Suai District, Chiang Rai Province.