Lizu (Chinese: 傈苏, 里汝, 吕苏; Western Ersu) is a Qiangic language spoken in Western Sichuan, China. There are 4,000 speakers according to Sun (1982) and 7,000 speakers according to Chirkova (2008). Muli, where Lizu is spoken, is a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual county and Lizu has been historically influenced by Mandarin Chinese.^[2]

Varieties

Yu (2009: 2) lists the following varieties of Lizu:

• Mianning Lizu: spoken in Lagusa 拉姑萨 Village (Lizu name `wontʂʰɨ `lombɑ), He’ai (“Hoŋai”) 和爱 Township, Mianning County 冕宁 , Liangshan 凉山 Prefecture. Documented by Yu (2012).
• Kala Lizu: spoken in Kala 卡拉 Township, Muli County 木里 , Liangshan Prefecture. Documented by Chirkova (2008); Huáng and Rénzēng (1991); and Dài and Huáng (1992).
• Naiqu Lizu: spoken in Naiqu 乃渠 Village, Naiqu Township, Jiulong County 九龙 , Garzê (Gānzī 甘孜) Prefecture. Documented by Ikeda (2009).