Lolopo (Loxrlapor)

Lolopo is a member of the Loloish branch of the Lolo-Burmese language family. It is spoken by about 570,000 people mainly in southwestern China, and also in northern Laos and northeastern Myanmar. In China it is spoken particularly in Nanhua County (南华县) and Dayao County (大姚县) in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture (楚雄彝族自治州) in central Yunnan Province. In Laos it is spoken in Phongsaly Province (ຜົ້ງສາລີ), and in Myanmar it is spoken in Shan State (ရှမ်းပြည်နယ်).

Lolopo is known as Central Yi (彝语中部方言) in China, and is one of the six Yi languages officially recognised by the Chinese government. It is known as Lolopho in Laos, and as Eastern Gaisu in Myanmar. Lolopo speakers call their language Loxrlavu [lo̱ʔ˨˩la˧˧vʊ˧˧] or Loxrlovu [lo̱ʔ˨˩lo˧˧vʊ˧˧].

Lolopo has two main dialects: the Lolopo or Nanhua dialect, which is spoken in Nanhua County in the southwest of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture; and the Lipo or Dayao dialect, which is spoken in Dayao County in the northwest of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture.

There are ways to write Lolopo with the Latin alphabet using a spelling system based on Chinese pinyin, and with the Yi script.

Latin alphabet for Lolopo

Download an alphabet chart for Lolopo (Excel)

Sample sentences

Ni ddar bbeix a mel, bamur zza halmel lar bbeix ddo.
When you speak, only speak what is appropriate.
Meir gga ddux lei mel mel nixmox ga gga ddux lei arddeir a.
What comes out of the mouth is what comes out of the center of the heart.
Var lu a mel, car ddei yar dax cirgo a lu dax a yarzi zzorci, halae ggecir leil yarzi seir.
When stir-frying vegetables, frying ginger with them is delicious, and it is also good for the body.

Source: https://www.webonary.org/mayou/

Links

Information about Lolopo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolopo_language
https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/彝语中部方言
 https://www.sil.org/resources/search/language/ycl
https://www.webonary.org/mayou/overview/introduction/
http://www.language-archives.org/language/ycl
https://glottolog.org/resource/languoid/id/lolo1259

Lolo-Burmese languages

Achang, Akha, Bisu, Burmese/Myanmar, Hani, Lahu, Lashi, Lipo, Lisu, Lolopo, Marma, Nisu, Nusu, Nuosu, Sani, Zaiwa

Page created: 13.03.25. Last modified: 13.03.25

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