The Danzhou dialect (), locally known as Xianghua (), is a Chinese variety of uncertain affiliation spoken in the area of Danzhou in northwestern Hainan, China. It was classified as Yue in the Language Atlas of China, but in more recent work, it is treated as an unclassified southern variety.

History

The Danzhou people's ancestors came initially from old Gaozhou and Wuzhou prefectures. The Yue language they brought with them was combined with the native popular language, and by the time of the Tang dynasty, the Danzhou dialect was officially formed.

Varieties

Regional varieties are Bei'an 北岸音, Shuinan 水南音, Zhoujia 昼家音, Shanshang 山上音, Haitou 海头音, and Wuhu 五湖音.

Distribution

The Danzhou dialect is spoken in the following areas of Hainan (Hainan 1994:253).

• most of Danzhou 儋州市 except for the southeastern part of Danzhou

Changjiang Li Autonomous County 昌江县 (northern coast)

• Nanluo 南罗 and Haiwei 海尾 area

• Xiyuan 西缘, Shiluo Town 石碌镇, Changjiang city

• northern Baisha Li Autonomous County 白沙县 (in just over 10 villages near the border with Danzhou)

• peripheral villages of Dongfang 东方市, Ledong 乐东, Qiongzhong 琼中, and Sanya 三亚

See also

• Mai Chinese

References