Documentation of Two Gelao Varieties: Zou Lei and A Hou, South West China

Jinfang Li, Central University of Nationalities

Project Details:

Major Documentation Project. Duration: 2006-2010. £88,906

Project Summary:

The project will document Zou Lei and A Hou, two varieties of Gelao,a member of the Tai-Kadai family in South West China. One of the most endangered languages in China, Gelao is now used by only 15-20 elderly people in Zhenning and Dafang counties of Guizhou Province. The project will devote special attention to documenting the cultural and ethnographical aspects of the languages in question. Proposed outcomes are: a grammar, a lexicon, and annotated texts for each of the languages. Audio-visual files are incorporated in printed works. A website will be constructed to provide access to project materials.