Monguor language

Monguor
Dēd Mongol, Tu
moŋɡuer
Native toChina
RegionQinghai, Gansu
Native speakers
150,000 (2000 census)[1]
Mongolic
Dialects
  • Mongghul (Huzhu)
  • Mangghuer (Minhe)
Latin script
Language codes
ISO 639-3mjg
Glottologtuuu1240
GlottopediaMangghuer[2]

The Monguor language (Chinese: 土族语; pinyin: Tǔzúyǔ; also written Mongour and Mongor) is a Mongolic language of its Shirongolic branch and is part of the Gansu–Qinghai sprachbund (also called the Amdo sprachbund). There are several dialects, mostly spoken by the Monguor people. A writing system was devised for Huzhu Monguor (Mongghul) in the late 20th century but has been little used.

A division into two languages, namely Mongghul in Huzhu Tu Autonomous County and Mangghuer in Minhe Hui and Tu Autonomous County, is considered necessary by some linguists. While Mongghul was under strong influence from Amdo Tibetan, the same holds for Mangghuer and Sinitic languages, and local varieties of Chinese such as the Gangou language were in turn influenced by Monguor.

  1. ^ Monguor at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ Glottopedia article on Monguor language.