Dongxiang language
Encyclopedia
The Santa language, also known as Dongxiang (东乡语), is a Mongolic language
spoken by the Dongxiang people
in northwest China.
, sentences of the subject–verb–object type have also been observed.
is widespread among the Sarta, and as a result, they often use the Arabic alphabet
to write down their language informally (cf. the Xiao'erjing system that was used by Hui people
); however, this has been little investigated by scholars. , the official Latin orthography
for Dongxiang, developed on the basis of the system used for the Monguor language, remained in the experimental stage.
who don't speak Dongxiang language, but speak natively a Dongxiang-influenced form of Mandarin. The linguist Mei W. Lee-Smith calls this creole language
the "Tangwang language" , based on the names of the two largest villages (Tangjia and Wangjia, parts of Tangwang Town
) where it is spoken.
According to Lee-Smith, the Tangwang language uses mostly Mandarin words and morphemes with Dongxiang grammar. Besides Dongxiang loanwords, Tangwang also has a substantial number of Arabic and Persian loanwords.
Like standard Mandarin, Tangwang is a tonal language, but grammatical particles, which are typically borrowed from Mandarin, but are used in the way Dongxiang morphemes would be used in Dongxiang, don't carry tones.
For example, while the Mandarin plural suffix -men (们) has only very restricted usage (it can be used with personal pronouns and some nouns related to people), Tangwang uses it, in the form -m, universally, the way Dongxiang would use its plural suffix -la. Mandarin pronoun ni (你) can be used in Tangwang as a possessive suffix (meaning "your").
Unlike Mandarin, but like Dongxiang, Tangwang has grammatical cases as well (but only 4 of them, instead of 8 in Dongxiang).
Mongolic languages
The Mongolic languages are a group of languages spoken in East-Central Asia, mostly in Mongolia and surrounding areas plus in Kalmykia. The best-known member of this language family, Mongolian, is the primary language of most of the residents of Mongolia and the Mongolian residents of Inner...
spoken by the Dongxiang people
Dongxiang people
The Dongxiang people are one of 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China...
in northwest China.
Grammar
In common with other Mongolic languages, Dongxiang is basically a subject–object–verb language. In Linxia, however, under the influence of the Mandarin dialects spoken by the neighbouring Hui peopleHui people
The Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's...
, sentences of the subject–verb–object type have also been observed.
Writing system
Knowledge of ArabicArabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
is widespread among the Sarta, and as a result, they often use the Arabic alphabet
Arabic alphabet
The Arabic alphabet or Arabic abjad is the Arabic script as it is codified for writing the Arabic language. It is written from right to left, in a cursive style, and includes 28 letters. Because letters usually stand for consonants, it is classified as an abjad.-Consonants:The Arabic alphabet has...
to write down their language informally (cf. the Xiao'erjing system that was used by Hui people
Hui people
The Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's...
); however, this has been little investigated by scholars. , the official Latin orthography
Latin alphabet
The Latin alphabet, also called the Roman alphabet, is the most recognized alphabet used in the world today. It evolved from a western variety of the Greek alphabet called the Cumaean alphabet, which was adopted and modified by the Etruscans who ruled early Rome...
for Dongxiang, developed on the basis of the system used for the Monguor language, remained in the experimental stage.
Numerals
| English | Classical Mongolian | Dongxiang | |
| 1 | One | Nigen | Niy |
| 2 | Two | Qoyar | Ghua |
| 3 | Three | Ghurban | Ghuran |
| 4 | Four | Dorben | Jierang |
| 5 | Five | Tabun | Tawun |
| 6 | Six | Jirghughan | Jirghun |
| 7 | Seven | Dologhan | Dolon |
| 8 | Eight | Naiman | Naiman |
| 9 | Nine | Yisun | Yysun |
| 10 | Ten | Arban | Haron |
The Tangwang creole language
There are about 20,000 people in the north-eastern part Dongxiang County, who self-identify as Dongxiang or Hui peopleHui people
The Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's...
who don't speak Dongxiang language, but speak natively a Dongxiang-influenced form of Mandarin. The linguist Mei W. Lee-Smith calls this creole language
Creole language
A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable natural language developed from the mixing of parent languages; creoles differ from pidgins in that they have been nativized by children as their primary language, making them have features of natural languages that are normally missing from...
the "Tangwang language" , based on the names of the two largest villages (Tangjia and Wangjia, parts of Tangwang Town
Town (China)
When referring to political divisions of China, town is the standard English translation of the Chinese 鎮 . It is a fourth-level administrative unit, i.e...
) where it is spoken.
According to Lee-Smith, the Tangwang language uses mostly Mandarin words and morphemes with Dongxiang grammar. Besides Dongxiang loanwords, Tangwang also has a substantial number of Arabic and Persian loanwords.
Like standard Mandarin, Tangwang is a tonal language, but grammatical particles, which are typically borrowed from Mandarin, but are used in the way Dongxiang morphemes would be used in Dongxiang, don't carry tones.
For example, while the Mandarin plural suffix -men (们) has only very restricted usage (it can be used with personal pronouns and some nouns related to people), Tangwang uses it, in the form -m, universally, the way Dongxiang would use its plural suffix -la. Mandarin pronoun ni (你) can be used in Tangwang as a possessive suffix (meaning "your").
Unlike Mandarin, but like Dongxiang, Tangwang has grammatical cases as well (but only 4 of them, instead of 8 in Dongxiang).