Ai-Cham | |
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Native to | China |
Region | Qiannan Prefecture, Guizhou Province |
Native speakers
|
2,700 (2000) |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 |
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Glottolog | aich1238 |
Ai-Cham (autonym: ʔai˧tʲam˩; Chinese: 锦话) is a language spoken mainly in Diwo 地莪 and Boyao 播尧 Townships, Jialiang District, Libo County, Qiannan Prefecture, Guizhou, China. Alternative names for the language are Jiamuhua, Jinhua and Atsam. Fang-Kuei Li first distinguished the language in 1943. Nearby languages include Bouyei and Mak. However, Yang (2000) considers Ai-Cham and Mak to be different dialects of an identical language.
Ai-Cham has six tones.
The mythical patriarch and hero of the Ai-Cham people is the demigod Wu Sangui, who is celebrated during the Ai-Cham New Year.