Lamu language

Lamu
Native to	China
Region	Yunnan
Ethnicity	300 (2007)
Native speakers	120 (2007)
Language family	Sino-Tibetan (Tibeto-Burman) Lolo–Burmese Loloish Lisoish Lisu–Lalo ? Micha Lamu
Language codes
ISO 639-3	llh
Glottolog	lamu1257
ELP	Lamu

Lamu (Lamo; autonym: la21 mu33) is a highly endangered Loloish language of northeastern Binchuan County, Yunnan. According to Bradley (2007), the Lamo language is similar to Lisu and Lipo, although the speakers are classified by the Chinese government as ethnic Lahu. There are only about 100 speakers left, all of whom are also first-language speakers of Lipo. Lamo speakers were located by Bradley in 1999.

Demographics

Lamu is spoken in 5 villages of Zhongying Township 钟英傈僳族乡 in the northeastern corner of Binchuan County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan, China. In all 5 villages, the Lipo (officially classified as Lisu) are the majority while the Lamu are the minority. There are also some Lolo speakers (officially classified as Yi) in the area. Most Lamu speakers have non-Lamu spouses. According to Bradley (2004), the Central Ngwi homeland may be in the Lamu area.

References

• Bradley, David. 2004. Endangered Central Ngwi Languages of Central Yunnan. Keynote Presentation, 37th International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Languages and Linguistics, Lund University, Sweden. (Lamu wordlist in the appendix)
• Bradley, David (2007). "Language Endangerment in China and Mainland Southeast Asia". In Matthias Brenzinger, ed. Language diversity endangered. New York: Mouton de Gruyter.