xiab

xiab is an extinction-threatened language belonging to the Kra–Dai family, officially classified under the Southwestern branch. It is primarily spoken by the Xiab ethnic group, who reside in the remote valleys of southeastern Yunnan province. The language is distinguished by its tonal system, comprising four lexical tones, and its elaborate system of evidential particles that encode information about the source of knowledge.

The phonological inventory of xiab includes a set of voiceless and voiced stops, nasals, fricatives, as well as a series of affricates that are uncommon in neighboring languages. Its syllable structure typically follows a (C)V(C) pattern, with the occasional CVC form due to borrowed morphemes. Morphologically, xiab shows agglutinative tendencies, using suffixes to indicate grammatical functions such as possession and temporal aspect.

Historically, records of xiab date back to the early 20th century when Chinese linguists first documented its usage in local annals. However, historical records are sparse and much of the oral tradition has been transmitted through song and storytelling. Various missionaries in the region also recorded lexical items, hinting at possible contact with the neighboring Miao languages.

The population of xiab speakers is estimated to be fewer than 1,000 individuals, most of whom are elderly. Younger members of the community increasingly adopt Mandarin as their primary language, thereby accelerating the language's shift. As of the latest survey in 2023, oral transmission remains, but literacy in xiab is minimal, with few educational resources available.

A recent project by a coalition of linguists and local activists, funded by the National Endowment for the Preservation of Native Languages, has aimed to create a digital corpus and educational curriculum to revitalize xiab. The project seeks to develop contextualized learning materials and to record the remaining fluent speakers for archival purposes, with the hope of maintaining the language for forthcoming generations.