The Xong language (dut Xongb, spoken by Qo Xiong people), also known as Xiangxi Miao (湘西 Western Hunan Miao), Eastern Miao, Meo, Red Miao, and North Hmongic, is a dialect cluster of Hmongic languages of China. Xong was given as a branch of Hmongic in Strecker (1987). Matisoff (2001) split it into two languages, reflected in Ethnologue, but Matisoff (2006) lists only one.
The best studied dialect is that of Layiping 腊乙坪, Jiwei Township 吉卫镇, Huayuan County, Hunan Province, China (see Xiang 1999).
Yang Zaibiao (2004) divides Qo Xiong into six varieties, with representative data points listed respectively. The speaker populations and locations are from Li Jinping & Li Tianyi (2012).
Western
Lect 1 (autonym: qo˧˥ɕoŋ˧˥): Jiwei 吉卫, Huayuan County; 769,000 speakers in the counties of Fenghuang (except Baren 叭仁乡), most of Huayuan, southern Jishou, Xinhuang, Mayang, Songtao, parts of Rongjiang, parts of Ziyun, Xiushan, parts of Nandan, parts of Hechi, and parts of Du'an.
Lect 2 (autonym: qo˥˦ɕoŋ˥˦): Yangmeng 阳孟, Jishou; 120,000 speakers in the counties of eastern Huayuan, western and northern Jishou, eastern Baojing, southwestern Guzhang, Fenghuang (in Baren 叭仁乡), and Xuan'en.
Lect 3 (autonym: o˥ɕaŋ˥): Zhongxin 中心, Baojing County; 30,000 speakers in southeastern Baojing County.
Eastern
Lect 4 (autonym: te˥˧suɑŋ˥˧): Xiaozhang 小章, Luxi County; 6,000 speakers in and around Xiaozhang, Luxi County
Lect 5 (autonym: ɡɔ˧˥sɤ˥˧): Danqing 丹青, Jishou; 48,000 speakers in the counties of northwestern Luxi, eastern Jishou, and southeastern Guzhang.
Lect 6 (autonym: bja˨sã˦nɤ˦): Dengshang 蹬上, Longshan County; 300 speakers in southern Longshan County and Yongshun County (in Shouche 首车乡).
He Fuling (2009) describes a western Qo Xiong dialect of Gouliang Ethnic Miao Village, Ala Township, Fenghuang County (凤凰县阿拉镇勾良苗寨).
Xiang (1999) divides Qo Xiong into Western and Eastern dialects, and lists the following counties with Qo Xiong speakers.
Western: 800,000 speakers (autonym qɔ˧˥ ɕoŋ˧˥)
Hunan
Huayuan County, Xiangxi
Jishou, Xiangxi
Fenghuang County, Xiangxi
Baojing County, Xiangxi
Longshan County, Xiangxi
Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua
Mayang Miao Autonomous County, Huaihua
Guizhou
Songtao Miao Autonomous County
Tongren County
Hubei
Xuan'en County
Chongqing
Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Qianjiang
Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Qianjiang
Guangxi
Hechi (including Beiya 坝牙村 of Xia'ao 下坳乡, Yong'an 永安乡, and Banling 板岭乡 of Du'an County)
Nandan County
Eastern: 80,000 speakers
Hunan
Jishou, Xiangxi (e.g., in Xiaozhangzhai 小章寨, with autonym qɯ˨ suɑŋ˥˧)
Longshan County, Xiangxi (e.g., in Wujiazhai 吴家寨)
Guzhang County, Xiangxi
Luxi County, Xiangxi (e.g., in Dongtouzhai 洞头寨, with autonym tei˥˧ sou˥˧)
Phonology and script
A written standard based on the Western dialect was established in 1956.
