Derung

From Free net encyclopedia

The Derung people (also spelled Drung or Dulong; own name in IPA: [tɯɹɯŋ]; Chinese: 独龙族, Pinyin: Dúlóngzú) are an ethnic group. They form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. Their population of 6,000 is found in Yunnan province. Another 600 can be found along the Nu Jiang (Salween River) in the northern Gongshan County.

Most of the Drung are Animist, although there are some Christians.

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Language

{{language |name=Derung |nativename=tɯɹɯŋ |states=China |region=Yunnan |speakers=11,300 |familycolor=Sino-Tibetan |fam2=Tibeto-Burman |fam3=Nungish |iso2=sit|iso3=duu}}

The Derung language belongs to the Tibeto-Burmanic branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages. The Derung have no written language. It is believed that the Derung and Nu (Anung) people are of the same origin and speak somewhat the same language. They share the same kinship terminology as well as other cultural features. The two people believe thay are brothers and sisters. While the Nu people in Fugong County in the south speak a quite different language from the "Nu" people in Gongshan.

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