SafekipediaList of endangered languages in China
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
An endangered language is a language that is at risk of disappearing because very few people still speak it. When a language loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language. Many languages around the world are in danger of being lost forever.
The UNESCO has created a way to measure how at risk a language is, with four levels of language endangerment. These levels are called "vulnerable," "definitely endangered," "severely endangered," and "critically endangered." A language that is vulnerable still has some speakers but is starting to be at risk. As it becomes more endangered, fewer and fewer people know how to speak it, until finally, no one speaks it at all.
China is home to many different languages and cultures. Some of these languages are now endangered, meaning they might disappear if nothing is done to help them. Learning about these languages helps us understand the rich history and culture of China and the world. It is important to protect these languages so that future generations can also enjoy and learn from them.
Languages
Main article: Languages of China
| Language | Status | Comments | ISO 639-3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adi language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: India | adi |
| Aluo language | Definitely endangered | yna | |
| Amis language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: Taiwan. Formosan languages. | ami |
| Amok language | Critically endangered | Also spoken in: Laos, Burma, Thailand | mqt |
| Anung language | Critically endangered | nun | |
| Aqaw Gelao language | Critically endangered | gio | |
| Ayizi language | Critically endangered | yyz | |
| Baheng language | Vulnerable | pha | |
| Baima language | Vulnerable | bqh | |
| Bokar language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: India | adi |
| Bola language | Definitely endangered | bxd | |
| Bonan language | Definitely endangered | peh | |
| Bori language | Definitely endangered | Also spoken in: India | adi |
| Bunun language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: Taiwan. Formosan languages. | bnn |
| Buryat language | Definitely endangered | (Manchuria). Also spoken in: Mongolia | bxm, bxr, bxu |
| Buyang language | Severely endangered | yzg, yha, yin | |
| Chesu language | Definitely endangered | ych | |
| Chintaw language | Critically endangered | xia | |
| Choyi language | Definitely endangered | qvy | |
| Cosung language | Definitely endangered | lkc | |
| Dagur language | Critically endangered | (Amur). | dta |
| Ersu language | Definitely endangered | ers | |
| Evenki language | Severely endangered | (Northeast China). Also spoken in: Russia | tuw-sol, orh |
| Fuyu Kyrgyz language | Critically endangered | (Northeast China). Belong to Siberian Turkic | |
| Gangou language | Severely endangered | ||
| Gazhuo language | Definitely endangered | kaf | |
| Green Gelao language | Critically endangered | giq | |
| Guichong language | Vulnerable | gqi | |
| Hlersu language | Vulnerable | hle | |
| Hu language | Definitely endangered | huo | |
| Huzhu Monguor language | Severely endangered | mjg | |
| Idu language | Definitely endangered | Also spoken in: India | clk |
| Ili Turki language | Critically endangered | ili | |
| Jinuo language | Definitely endangered | jiy, jiu | |
| Jiongnai Bunu language | Definitely endangered | pnu | |
| Jone language | Definitely endangered | cda | |
| Kanakanavu language | Critically endangered | Also spoken in: Taiwan. Formosan languages. | xnb |
| Kangjia language | Severely endangered | kxs | |
| Kathu language | Definitely endangered | ykt | |
| Kavalan language | Critically endangered | Also spoken in: Taiwan. Formosan languages. | ckv |
| Khamba language | Definitely endangered | Also spoken in: India | kbg |
| Khamnigan Mongol language | Definitely endangered | Also spoken in: Mongolia, Russia | |
| Khmin language | Vulnerable | bgk | |
| Kilen language | Critically endangered | Also spoken in: Russia | gld |
| Ladakhi language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: India | can, lbj, tkk |
| Laemae language | Severely endangered | ||
| Lai language | Definitely endangered | ply | |
| Laji language | Critically endangered | lbt | |
| Lajia language | Definitely endangered | lbc | |
| Lalo language | Vulnerable | yik, ywt, yit, ywl | |
| Lamu language | Critically endangered | llh | |
| Laomian language | Definitely endangered | lwm | |
| Lopnor Uighur | Critically endangered | Also known as Lopluk. | uig |
| Mak language | Definitely endangered | mkg | |
| Manchu language | Critically endangered | (Amur). | mnc |
| Manchu language | Critically endangered | (Nonni). | mnc |
| Manchurian Kirghiz language | Critically endangered | ||
| Manchurian Ölöt language | Severely endangered | ||
| Mang language | Definitely endangered | zng | |
| Maonan language | Vulnerable | mmd | |
| Miju language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: India | mxj |
| Minhe Monguor language | Definitely endangered | mjg | |
| Miqie language | Definitely endangered | yiq | |
| Mo'ang language | Definitely endangered | ||
| Mok language | Definitely endangered | tlq | |
| Motuo Menba language | Definitely endangered | Also spoken in: India | tsj |
| Mra language | Critically endangered | Also spoken in: India | |
| Muda language | Vulnerable | ymd | |
| Muji language | Definitely endangered | ymx, ymq, ymc, ymi, ymz | |
| Mulam language | Vulnerable | mlm | |
| Mulao language | Severely endangered | ||
| Muya language | Vulnerable | mvm | |
| Na language | Critically endangered | Also spoken in: India | |
| Naluo language | Vulnerable | ylo | |
| Namuyi language | Vulnerable | nmy | |
| Nanay language | Severely endangered | Also spoken in: Russia | gld |
| Nataoran language | Critically endangered | Also spoken in: Taiwan. Formosan languages. | ais |
| Northern Tujia language | Severely endangered | tji | |
| Numao Bunu language | Definitely endangered | bwx | |
| Ordos language | Definitely endangered | drh, khk, mvf | |
| Oyrat language | Definitely endangered | Also spoken in: Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia | xal |
| Paiwan language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: Taiwan. Formosan languages. | pwn |
| Pakan language | Definitely endangered | bbh | |
| Patua language | Critically endangered | mzs | |
| Phula language | Vulnerable | ypa, ypg, ypo, yip, ypn, yhl, ypb, phh, ypm, ypp, yph, ypz | |
| Pupeo language | Definitely endangered | laq | |
| Pyuma language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: Taiwan. Formosan languages. | pyu |
| Rao language | Definitely endangered | tct | |
| Red Gelao language | Critically endangered | gir | |
| Rukai language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: Taiwan. Formosan languages. | dru |
| Saaroa language | Critically endangered | Also spoken in: Taiwan. Formosan languages. | sxr |
| Saisiyat language | Severely endangered | Also spoken in: Taiwan. Formosan languages. | xsy |
| Salar language | Vulnerable | slr | |
| Samatao language | Critically endangered | ysd | |
| Samatu language | Critically endangered | ||
| Samei language | Severely endangered | smh | |
| Sangkong language | Vulnerable | sgk | |
| Santa language | Vulnerable | sce | |
| Sanyi language | Severely endangered | ysy | |
| Sarikoli language | Definitely endangered | srh | |
| Saryg Yugur language | Severely endangered | ybe | |
| She language | Critically endangered | shx | |
| Sherpa language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: India, Nepal | xsr |
| Shingsaba language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: Nepal | lhm |
| Shira Yugur language | Severely endangered | yuy | |
| Shixing language | Definitely endangered | sxg | |
| Sibe language | Severely endangered | sjo | |
| Sinkiang Dagur language | Definitely endangered | dta | |
| Solon language | Definitely endangered | evn, orh | |
| Southern Tujia language | Severely endangered | tjs | |
| Sulung language | Definitely endangered | Also spoken in: India | suv |
| Talu language | Vulnerable | yta | |
| Tanglang language | Vulnerable | ytl | |
| Tangwang language | Definitely endangered | ||
| Taroko language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: Taiwan. Formosan languages. | trv |
| Taruang language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: India, Burma | mhu |
| Tawang language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: Bhutan, India | twm |
| Tayal language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: Taiwan. Formosan languages. | tay |
| Thao language | Critically endangered | Also spoken in: Taiwan. Formosan languages. | ssf |
| Tinan language | Definitely endangered | Also spoken in: India | lbf |
| Tshangla language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: Bhutan, India | tsj |
| Tsou language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: Taiwan. Formosan languages. | tsy |
| Tuvan language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: Mongolia, Russia | tyv |
| U language | Definitely endangered | uuu | |
| Utsat language | Definitely endangered | huq | |
| Wakhi language | Definitely endangered | Also spoken in: Pakistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan | wbl |
| Waxiang language | Vulnerable | wxa | |
| White Gelao language | Severely endangered | giw | |
| Wunai Bunu language | Definitely endangered | bwn | |
| Wuse language | Vulnerable | eee | |
| Wutun language | Definitely endangered | wuh | |
| Yami language | Vulnerable | Also spoken in: Taiwan. Formosan languages. | tao |
| Yerong language | Severely endangered | yrn | |
| Younuo Bunu language | Definitely endangered | buh | |
| Zaiwa language | Definitely endangered | Also spoken in: India | zkr |
| Zaozou language | Vulnerable | zal | |
| Zhaba language | Vulnerable | zhb | |
Related articles
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on List of endangered languages in China, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.