The Nùng Dín of Vietnam and the Nong Zhuang (侬壮) of Yunnan, China

In 2008, Eric C. Johnson published a paper discussing about Zhuang languages of Wenshan prefecture, Yunnan in which he focused on three Zhuang subgroups, namely Nong Zhuang, Min Zhuang, and Dai Zhuang. Linguistically speaking, Nong Zhuang is phonologically close to Yang Zhuang (Dejing) and Zuojiang Zhuang. His team's own phonological analysis confirms that Nong Zhuang is the same language as the “Western Nung” described by William Gedney. The Nong Zhuang are the largest Zhuang ethnic grouping in Yunnan Province, numbering around 550,000, and are found in largest concentrations in central and southern Guangnan County, Yanshan County and Wenshan County. Smaller concentrations live in the remaining five counties: Maguan, Xichou, Malipo, Funing and Qiubei. There are five different groups within the Nong Zhuang, namely Dao Nong (道侬), Niang Nong (仰侬), Du Nong (赌侬), Ting Nong (厅侬), Jin Nong (锦侬). Their names seem to correspond to the more noticeable differences in costume among the Nong Zhuang, especially concerning the women’s headdress. The Nong Zhuang may have migrated to Yunnan from western Guangxi at some later period, as their language is more similar to some of Guangxi’s Zhuang languages.

The Nong Zhuang in Yunnan

Eric C. Johnson noted that the Nùng languages of Vietnam, while closely related, are probably not all mutually intelligible with the Nong Zhuang language of Wenshan Prefecture. He generally implied all languages designated as Nung in northern Vietnam and overlooked a specific subgroup called Nùng Dín who live in Ha Giang and Lao Cai provinces of Vietnam. There is no comparative analysis has been done so far on the similarity between the Nung Din language and the Nong Zhuang language, but it is promising that their languages are mutually intelligible. The Nung Din live primarily in Huang Su Fi, Xin Man counties of Ha Giang and Bac Ha, Muong Khuong counties of Lao Cai. Their costume and headdress bear great resemblance to whose of the Nong Zhuang. Thomas J. Hudak (2008) referred to Nung Din language as 'western Nung', explaining that this language is linguistic isolate located much farther to the west of other varieties of Nung. It differs considerably in vocabulary from the rest of Nung dialects (languages).

The Nùng Dín in Lao Cai

It should be mentioned that, in terms of history, during the Qin period, the term “Luoyue” (骆越) was already being used to refer to the Nong Zhuang. Zhang et al. (1999:12) state that the term “Xi’ou” (西瓯) was used to refer to the ancestors of today’s speakers of the Northern Taic languages, that is, who are now classified within the Zhuang and Bouyei nationalities in China. On the other hand, “Luoyue” referred to the ancestors of those who now speak Central and Southwestern Taic languages, now classified within China’s Zhuang and Dai nationalities.