Ethnicity Qabiao ISO 639-3 laq | Native speakers 710 (2009 census) Glottolog qabi1235 | |
Region Hà Giang, Vietnam; Wenshan, Yunnan, China Language family Tai–Kadai
Kra
Yang–Biao
Qabiao | ||
Qabiao, or sometimes Laqua (autonym: qa biau˧; Chinese: Pubiao 普标, Vietnamese: Pu Péo) is a Tai–Kadai language spoken by the Qabiao people in northern Vietnam and Yunnan, China. Alternative names for Qabiao include Kabeo, Ka Beo, Ka Bao, Ka Biao, Laqua, Pubiao (Pupeo or Pu Péo) and Pen Ti Lolo (Bendi Lolo). The meaning of the name "Qabiao" is unknown.
Contents
The Qabiao language is highly endangered. Also, most of its speakers lack access to nearby potable water.
Maza, a Lolo–Burmese language spoken near the Qabiao area, is notable for having a Qabiao substratum (Hsiu 2014:68-69).
Geographic distribution
In Vietnam, Qabiao is spoken in Đồng Văn District, Hà Giang Province in Phố Là and Sủng Chéng villages, and perhaps also in Yên Minh and Mèo Vạc Districts.
Tran (2011:15) reports that Qabiao is spoken in the following locations of Ha Giang Province.
The Pu Péo (Qabiao) of Vietnam claim that they had traditionally lived in the following villages in Vietnam and China (Tran 2011:16).
In China, Qabiao is spoken in Tiechang Township 铁厂镇 and Donggan Township 懂干镇 in Malipo County, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan (Liang, et al. 2007). Many Qabiao people have shifted to Southwestern Mandarin, although it is still spoken in villages such as Pufeng 普峰.
Phonology
The Qabiao language has the following tones: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1, D2.