| Vandu | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Vietnam |
| Region | Ha Giang Province |
Native speakers | (50 cited 1997)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | gir |
| Glottolog | redg1235 |
| ELP | Red Gelao |
Vandu orRed Gelao is an endangeredGelao language spoken in two villages ofHa Giang Province, Vietnam. 1-2 speakers have also been located across the border inMalipo County, Yunnan, China.[2][3]
Samarina (2011), which includes lengthy word lists and audio recordings, is the most detailed linguistic description to date.[4]
As the most endangered Gelao language variety, Red Gelao of Vietnam (not to be confused withA'ou ofGuizhou, China, which is also referred to as Red Gelao) is spoken by only about 50 people. Many speakers have shifted toSouthwestern Mandarin orHmong. The Red Gelao people, who call themselves theva35ntɯ31, send brides back and forth among the villages of Na Khê and Bạch Đích (or Bìch Đich) inYên Minh District,Hà Giang Province, Vietnam and another village in Fanpo,Malipo County,Yunnan, China[5] (autonym:u33wei55) in order to ensure the continual survival of their ethnic group. Edmondson (1998) reports that there are also Red Gelao people in Cán Tí,Quản Bạ District and Túng Sán,Hoàng Su Phì District[6] who no longer speak any Gelao, and speak Hmong, Tay, or Vietnamese instead.[7] Hoang (2013:12)[8] reports that there also some Red Gelao in Vĩnh Hảo commune,Bắc Quang District who had moved from Túng Sán commune.
