Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 21, 2026

Limi language

Limi is a Loloish language spoken in Yongde, Fengqing, and Yun counties of western Yunnan province, China.

Last revised
Jun 21, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
253 w
Citations
7
Source
Limi
Liumi
Native toChina
RegionYunnan
Native speakers
29,000 (2002)1
Language codes
ISO 639-3ylm
Glottologlimi1243

Limi (autonym: li33 mi33)2 is a Loloish language spoken in Yongde, Fengqing, and Yun counties of western Yunnan province, China.

Distribution

Limi is spoken in the following locations.3

Yang (2017)2 reports that Limi is spoken by about 20,000 people in Yongde, Fengqing, and Yun counties. Limi speakers make up 70% of the 26,000 people living in Wumulong Township (乌木龙乡), Yongde County, Yunnan. About 2,600 members of a nearby ethnic group called "Luo" (倮族) (likely Lolopo) also live in and around Wumulong.2

Classification

Limi is likely most closely related to Lolopo, but also has many Lalo loanwords.2

History

Limi speakers likely migrated from Jingdong County during the early 1300s, first arriving in Bangmai Village (邦卖/班卖), Fengqing County, and then later migrating to Wumulong Township, Yongde County.2

References

References

  1. Limi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. Yang, Cathryn (2017). "Introducing Limi: A Rising Tone Is Born". In Ding, Picus Sizhi; Pelkey, Jamin (eds.). Sociohistorical Linguistics in Southeast Asia: New Horizons for Tibeto-Burman Studies in Honor of David Bradley. Leiden: Brill. pp. 75–95. ISBN 978-90-04-35051-9 – via Academia.edu.
  3. "China". Asian Harvest. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2013-07-19.
  • Wang, Xingzhong 王兴中; Zhao, Weihua 赵卫华 (2013). Líncāng dìlǐ yǔ shuāngyǔ shǐyòng 临沧地理与双语使用 [Geography and Multilingualism in Lincang] (in Chinese). Kunming: Yunnan renmin chubanshe. ISBN 978-7-222-08581-7.
  • Yang, Cathryn, Limi Wordlist – via Academia.edu.