Nusu

Nusu is a member of the Loloish branch of the Tibeto-Burman language family. It is spoken by about 12,600 people, mainly in Yunnan Province in the south west of China, and also in northern Myanmar / Burma.

There are three dialects of Nusu: Central Nusu, Southern Nusu and Northern Nusu. The Central dialect, which is also known as Zhizhiluo-Laomudeng or Miangu, has about 6,000 speakers in the south of Fugong County in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in the west of Yunnan Province. The Southern dialect, or Guoke-Puluo, has about 4,000 speakers in the north of Lushui County in Nujiang Prefecture, and the Northern dialect, or Wawa-Kongtong, is spoken by about 2,000 people in Fugong County.

In Myanmar Nusu is spoken by about 670 people in Myitkyina district of Kachin State. All three dialects are spoken in Myanmar.

Nusu is written with a version of the Latin alphabet, although few Nusu speakers are literate in their language. Parts of the Bible have been translated into Nusu.

Nusu alphabet

Nusu alphabet

Download an alphabet chart for Nusu (Excel)

Sample text (John 1:1-4)

  1. CHRUX TSAO BA LEX JRAQ KHWAOC KHWIX^ NEZ, JRAQ KHWAOC NAOX WO-SER LEX THIQ CHON KHWIX NEZ. JRAQ KHWAOC NAOX WO-SER NEQ A.
  2. NNYUC NAOX CHRUX TSAO BA LEX, WO-SER LEX THIQ CHON KHWIX NYI^ NEZ.
  3. KHWIX KUX KHAX NGWAK NAOX NNYUC DO LEX JRWIX AC CHRIC^ NEQ A. JRWIC BOEX KUX TSEUC DO NNYUC DO LEX MAX JRWIC AC^ THIQ CHRIC LI MAC KHWIX.
  4. NNYUC KIV DO NAOX MYAIC KHWIX^ NEZ, MYAIC RU KUX NAOX VAX YAC TSON TSEUC BAOX MU RUX VRON KHOE NEQ A

Source: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/2971/JHN.1.NNT

Translation

  1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
  2. The same was in the beginning with God.
  3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
  4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Source: https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-Chapter-1/

Details provided by Michael Peter Füstumum

Videos in Nusu

Links

Information about the Nusu language
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nusu_language
https://www.ethnologue.com/language/nuf
https://www.nusu.win/nuf/buc-tax

Tibeto-Burman languages

Achang, Arakanese, Balti, Bisu, Chocha Ngacha, Drung, Hajong, Hani, Hmar, Jingpho, Lashi, Lepcha, Lhao Vo, Lhomi, Lisu, Magar, Manipuri, Mro, Naxi, Newar, Nusu, Pahari, Tangkhul Naga, Tujia, Yolmo, Zaiwa

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page created: 17.01.22. Last modified: 17.01.22

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