Va language

Updated on Jan 01, 2025

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Region Mojiang County, China ISO 639-3 None (mis)		Native speakers 3,000 (2015) Glottolog east2776
Language family AustroasiaticPalaungicAngkuicVa

Va is a pair of Angkuic languages spoken in Mojiang Hani Autonomous County, Yunnan, China. Although the Va autonym is vaʔ˥˩, the language is not Wa, and neither does it belong to the Waic language subgroup. Rather, Va constitutes a separate subdivision within the Angkuic languages.

Northern Va (about 2,000 speakers): spoken in Taihe Administrative Village 太和村, Jingxing Township 景星乡, Mojiang County, Yunnan, China. Northern Va is spoken by all generations, including children.

Southern Va (about 1,000 speakers): spoken in Zhenglong Administrative Village 正龙村, Jingxing Township 景星乡, Mojiang County, Yunnan, China. Southern Va is more endangered and is not spoken by children, but is also more phonologically conservative.

Distribution

Northern Va is spoken in about 8 villages of Taihe Village 太和村, Jingxing Township 景星乡, Mojiang County, Yunnan.

Wamo 挖墨

Xinzhai 新寨 (Upper 上 and Lower 下)

Jiuzhai 旧寨

Dazhai 大寨 (Upper 上 and Lower 下)

Xiaozhai 小寨 (Upper 上 and Lower 下)

Southern Va is spoken in the following villages of Zhenglong Village 正龙村, Jingxing Township 景星乡, Mojiang County, Yunnan.

Pingtian 平田

Banglao 蚌老 (culture and language best preserved)

Miena 乜那

Binggu 丙故

Yin’gou 阴沟

Yakou 丫口 (culture and language least preserved)

References

Va language Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA