China According to a 1950s survey performed by the Chinese government, the Bouyei language as spoken in Guizhou can be divided into three general dialect groups (Snyder 2008).#
The Southern Guizhou (Qian) group – the largest of the three – from the
Qianxinan Bouyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, which is mostly intelligible with the
Guibian and Guibei Zhuang dialects. This vernacular is spoken in the counties of
Wangmo,
Ceheng,
Luodian,
Dushan,
Libo,
Duyun,
Pingtang,
Zhenfeng,
Anlong,
Xingren, and
Xinyi. •
The Central Guizhou (Qian) group – next most spoken of the three – which is spread throughout
Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture and the suburbs of
Guiyang, and is partially intelligible with the Southern Guizhou dialects (it is very similar to the Zhuang dialects of northern
Guangxi). This vernacular is spoken in the counties of
Longli,
Guiding,
Qingzhen,
Pingba,
Kaiyang,
Guiyang, and
Anshun. •
The Western Guizhou (Qian) dialects – the least spoken of the three – which is spoken in the counties of
Zhenning,
Guanling,
Ziyun,
Qinglong,
Pu'an,
Liuzhi,
Panxian,
Shuicheng,
Bijie, and
Weining. The western dialects show more unique features than the other two groups. Some western dialects have aspirated stops, which is an uncommon feature in
northern Tai languages (Snyder 2008). Wu, Snyder, & Liang (2007) is the most comprehensive Bouyei survey to date, and covers the following data points. ;
Qiannan Bouyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture • Guyang,
Changshun County () • Nanzhai,
Dushan County () • Jichang, Dushan County () • Fuxi,
Duyun County () • Gonggu Township,
Guiding County (), now merged • Danggu,
Huishui County () • Fucun,
Libo County () • Yangchang,
Longli County () • Luokun,
Luodian County () • Poqiu, Luodian County () • Xiliang Township,
Pingtang County (), now merged • Zhangbu Township, Pingtang County () ;
Qianxinan Bouyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture • Pingle Township,
Anlong County (), now merged • Huarong,
Ceheng County () • Zitang,
Qinglong County () • Fuxing,
Wangmo County () • Bajie,
Xingyi County () • Mingu,
Zhenfeng County () ;
Anshun City • Huangla Buyei and Miao Ethnic Township, Anshun () • Banle,
Zhenning County () • Shitouzhai, Zhenning County () • Huohua Township,
Ziyun County () • Nonghe, Ziyun County () ;
Liuzhi Special District • Fa'er Buyei, Miao, and Yi Ethnic Township,
Shuicheng County () The
Yei Zhuang varieties of
Wenshan Prefecture,
Yunnan are closely related to the Bouyei varieties of
Guizhou. Many other languages outside China with the names "Yei", "Yay", "Yoy", are also closely related.
Vietnam Bouyei is also spoken in
northern Vietnam by several groups, the Bouyei people of
Muong Khuong District of
Lào Cai Province and in
Quan Ba District of
Ha Giang Province and the
Giáy. Edmondson and Gregerson (2001) has determined their language to be most similar to the Bouyei dialects of southwest Guizhou. The Giáy are an officially recognized group in Vietnam who now number nearly 50,000. Some household registries of the Giáy of Vietnam indicate that their ancestors had left
Guizhou 160 years ago during the
Qing dynasty, and traveled overland to southern
Yunnan and then Vietnam (Edmondson & Gregerson 2001). This coincides with the
Miao Rebellion (1854–73) of Guizhou. The Giáy are found in the following locations of Vietnam. •
Lào Cai province • Tả Van village near
Sa Pa •
Bát Xát District •
Mường Khương District •
Bảo Yên District •
Hà Giang Province •
Yên Minh District •
Đồng Văn District •
Lai Châu Province •
Mường Tè District •
Phong Thổ District •
Cao Bằng Province •
Bảo Lạc District Some Giày are in
Yên Bái Province. The Giáy of
Mường Khương District of Lào Cai who call themselves
Tu Dí [
thu zi can only speak a
form of Chinese, and no Giáy. Their autonym comes from their ancestral place of origin, which is
Duyun of
Guizhou province, China. According to their household records, they had arrived in
Maguan County and in
Honghe Prefecture about 200 years ago. Similarly, some Giáy of Vietnam report that they have relatives still living in
Hekou,
Yunnan province, China (Edmondson & Gregerson 2001). The
Pu Nả people of
Tam Đường District, Lai Châu Province, Vietnam call themselves the
Vần Nả (with
vần meaning 'people'), and number about 5,000 individuals (Lò 2012:11–20). They are also called
Quý Châu (
Guizhou ),
Sa Quý Châu,
Củi Chu,
Pu Y, or
Pâu Thìn. The Pu Nả live in the following villages of Tam Đường District (Lò 2012:18). • Bản Giang commune • bản Coc Pa • bản Giang • bản Nà Bỏ • bản Nà Sài • bản Nà Cơ • bản Tẩn Phủ Nhiêu • Thèn Xin commune • bản Lở Thàng • Thèn Xin • San Thàng commune • bản Tả Xin Chải • Xéo Xin Chải • Phan Lỉn The
Yay language described by
William J. Gedney is in fact the Giáy dialect of Mường Hum,
Bát Xát District,
Lào Cai (Edmondson & Gregerson 2001). There are also other related
Northern Tai languages spoken in Vietnam as well, such Bố Y, Nhang, and Quy Châu (possibly closely related to
Tai Mène of
Laos). The Bố Y had originally came from around
Wangmo County in southwestern Guizhou. Some subgroups of Bố Y call themselves the
Pu Na or
Pu Thin, meaning 'people of the paddy field'.
Laos There are also some speakers in
Laos. In Laos, the Giáy people are called
Yang, which is also used four various
Rau peoples living there. The Yang people, also spelled Nhang, are located in
Louang Namtha Province,
Oudomxay Province and
Phongsaly Province. This three provinces are bordered by Yunnan, and one border Vietnam. ==Phonology==