Drag-yab language


Drag-yab is a Sino-Tibetan language recently documented by Suzuki & Nyima. It is spoken in the southern half of Zhag'yab County, Chamdo, eastern Tibet.
Suzuki & Nyima document the dialect of Drag-yab spoken in the village of Razi 热孜村 in :zh:香堆镇|Xiangdui Town 香堆镇, Zhag'yab County.

Names

Drag-yab is referred to by the Changdu Gazetteer as Zesong 则松话, and is reported by Changdu to be spoken in Zesong 则松乡 and :zh:巴日乡|Bari 巴日乡 townships of Zhag'yab County.
The language is also referred to as both sMa and rMa. Nyina & Suzuki report the autonym m̥a55, which is identical to the Larong autonym also reported by them.

Classification

Suzuki & Nyima note that Zlarong is closely related to two other recently documented Sino-Tibetan languages of Chamdo, eastern Tibet, namely Lamo and Larong.

Geographical distribution

Drag-yab is spoken in 6 townships, along different river valleys within the Lancang River watershed. These include Maiqu, Kaqu, Lasongqu, Guidaqu, and Changqu.
Drag-yab villages by township:
Township, CountyVillages
Xiangdui Town 香堆镇, Drag-yabRezi 热孜村, Kunda 坤达村, Daba 达巴村, Xuelong 学龙村, Laxi 拉西村, and Dangduo 当佐村
Rongzhou Township 荣周乡, Drag-yabMaidui 麦堆村, Zuotong 佐通村, and Zere
Kuoda Township 扩达乡, Drag-yabZeran, Gangba, Gangka 岗卡村, Zuoduo, etc.
Zongsha Township 宗沙乡, Drag-yabYuergang, Lasong 拉松村, etc.
Azi Township 阿孜乡, Drag-yabmost villages in the township
Bari Township 巴日乡, Drag-yabBaie, Luosong 罗松村, Zesong, Zhuoba, Xiongre 雄然村, etc.