Cao Miao language


Cao Miao is a variety of Dong according to Shi Lin. Dialects include Liushi Miao 六十苗, Sishi Miao 四十苗, and Ershi Miao 二十苗. The Flowery Miao 花苗 do not consider themselves to be Cao Miao 草苗, although their language is similar to Sixty Miao and Forty Miao.

Subdivisions

There are various ethnic subgroups within Cao Miao.
  • Inner Miao 内部苗 : 2 subgroups
  • *Sixty Miao 六十苗
  • *Forty Miao 四十苗, also called Diao 刁族
  • Middle Miao 中部苗, also called Twenty Miao 二十苗 or Flowery Miao 花苗.
  • Outer Miao 外部苗, also called Old Miao 老苗 or Black Miao 黑苗.
Other ethnolinguistic groups living near the Cao Miao include the Han 汉族, Dong 侗族, Yao 瑶族, Suantang 酸汤人, Sanqiao 三撬人, Tongdao Pinghua speakers, Hakka 客家人, Chuanmin 船民, Naxi 那溪人, Liujia 六甲人, and Liuse 六色人.

Population

There is a total of 58,900 Cao Miao people. The following population statistics are from Shi.
By ethnic subgroup:
  • 60 Miao: 49,300 people
  • 20 Miao : 5,930 people
  • 40 Miao : 3,620 people
By county:

Distribution

Below are languages and their respective locations studied by Shi Lin.
  • Liushi Miao 六十苗: Qifan 起凡, Dagaoping 大高坪, Gaoyu 高宇
  • Sishi Miao 四十苗: Tanghua 堂华
  • Ershi Miao 二十苗: Kenxi 肯溪
  • Southern Dong: Longcheng 陇城, Chengyang 程阳
  • Northern Dong: Xiudong 秀洞, Sanmentang 三门塘
Ethnic Cao Miao also live in the following townships.
Sishi Miao 四十苗 is spoken in these townships:
The Flowery Miao live in Luoxiang 洛香镇, Congjiang County; Guochong 锅冲乡 and Dagaoping 大高坪, Tongdao County; Deshun 德顺乡, Liping County. In Liping County, they are also known as the "Flowery-Clothed Miao" . According to Shi Lin, Flowery Miao 花苗 is spoken in these townships:
Other Cao Miao locations include:
  • Liping County, Guizhou
  • *Tangbi Village 塘婢村, Leidong Township 雷洞乡
  • *Jiujue Village 九厥村, Hongzhou Township 洪州镇
  • *Guigong 归公, Diping Township 地坪乡
  • *Guibai 归白, Diping Township 地坪乡
  • *Pingsong 平松, Shuikou Township 水口镇
  • *Bashan 八善, Shuikou Township 水口镇
  • *Gaoze Village 高泽村, Shunhua Township 顺化乡
  • Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Guangxi
  • *Fenshui 汾水, Bajiang Township 八江乡
  • *Gaoya 高亚, Dudong Township 独峒乡
  • Rongshui Miao Autonomous County, Guangxi
  • *Rongtang Village 荣塘村, Sirong Township 四荣乡