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Larong or Zlarong (autonym: la˥ rɔ˥; Tibetan name: la˥ ruŋ˥) is a recently documented Sino-Tibetan language spoken in Zogang and Markam counties of southeastern Chamdo, Tibet. It was recently documented by Zhao (2018)[1] and Suzuki & Nyima (2018).[2] Zhao (2018) tentatively classifies Zlarong as a Qiangic language.

Larong
Zlarong
Native to	China
Region	Zogang County, Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet
Language family	Sino-Tibetan (unclassified); Qiangic ? Chamdo Larong
Language codes
ISO 639-3	–
Glottolog	zlar1234

Names

Larong is referred to by the Changdu Gazetteer (2005)[3] as Rumei 如美话, as it is spoken in Rumei Township 如美乡, Markam County.

Zhao (2018) reports the autonym la˥rɔ˥ and the Tibetan exonym la˥ruŋ˥ for the speakers. Their language is referred to as mə˥kə˥ by speakers, and by Tibetans as ma˧˩ke˥˧ (Zhao 2018).

Nyina & Suzuki (2019) report the autonym m̥a55, which is identical to the Drag-yab autonym also reported by them (m̥a55 ~ ma55).[4]

Locations

• Renguo Township 仁果乡, Mdzo sgang County 左贡县 (Suzuki & Nyima 2018; Zhao 2018), including the village of Phagpa 坝巴村[2]
• Cuowa Township 措瓦乡, Markam County 芒康县[4]
• Rumei Township 如美镇, Markam County 芒康县 (Changdu Gazetteer 2005), including the village of Tangre Chaya 达日村[2]
• Qudeng Township 曲登乡, Markam County 芒康县 (two villages)[4]

Larong villages by township:[4]

Township, County	Villages
Renguo Township 仁果乡, Dzogang	Dongba 东坝村, Deqinggang, Zuoke 左科村, Xindi 新德村, Shalong 沙龙村 (Sano), Paba 坝巴村, Jiaka 加卡村, Languo 兰果村, Woba, etc.
Cuowa Township 措瓦乡, Markham	Tongsha 通沙村, Wuba, Zhongri 仲日村, Kuzi 库孜村, Taya 它亚村, Dangreqiaya, etc.
Rumei Town 如美镇, Markham	Rumei 如美村, Zhuka 竹卡村, Lawu 拉乌村, and Dari 达日村
Qudeng Township 曲登乡, Markham	Qudeng 曲登村 and Dengba 登巴村

Dialects

Larong is spoken in four townships in the Larong valley, along the Lancang River (also known as the Zla chu or Lachu River in Tibetan). The four townships are:[4]

• Ringo (Chinese: Renguo)
• Tshonga (Chinese: Cuowa): Larong villages are Tshonga, Rushul, Thosa, Thaya, Drori, and Kuze
• Rongsmad (Chinese: Rumei): Larong speakers in entire town
• Choedan (Chinese: Qudeng): Dempa (Chinese: Dengba) and Choedan village clusters, both Larong-speaking

The dialect spoken in Ringo and Tshonga differs from that of the dialect spoken in Rongsmad and Choedan.[4]

Classification

Suzuki & Nyima (2018)[2] note that Zlarong (Larong) is closely related to two other recently documented Sino-Tibetan languages of Chamdo, eastern Tibet, namely Lamo and Drag-yab (spoken in southern Zhag'yab County).

Vocabulary

Zhao (2018: 1-3) lists the following Zlarong words.

Gloss	Zlarong
name	mɛ˥
medicine	rɛ˥˧
cloth	rɛ˩˧
ice	ndza˥
you	ȵo˥˧
horse	rɛ˥˧
road	rə˩˧
blood	sɛ˥˧
meat	tɕʰi˩˧
urine	pi˩˧
snow	wi˩˧
water	tɕi˥
smoke	mu˥kʰu˥
wind	ma˧˩mi˥
cloud	ndə˥rə˥
belly	wu˩˧
white	tʂʰɔ̃˧˩tʂʰɔ̃˥˧
black	ȵi˧˩ȵi˥˧
red	nɛ˥nɛ˥˧
yellow	nɛ˥nɛ˥˧
short	wɛ˧˩wɛ˥˧
wide	pʰa˥pʰa˥˧
thick	mbo˧˩mbo˥
fish	ȵɛ˩˧
sand	tɕy˧˩mɛ˥˧
doctor	mɛ̃˥pɛ˥˧
ground	sɛ˥˧
zero	lɛ˥kɔ˥
one	ti˩˧kʰi˥
two	nɛ˧˩ji˥˧
three	sɔ̃˩˧
four	ɣə˩˧
five	ŋa˩˧
six	tɕʰu˩˧
seven	ȵɛ˩˧
eight	ɕɛ˩˧
nine	ŋgo˩˧
ten	a˥kõ˥

References

• Zhao, Haoliang. 2018. A brief introduction to Zlarong, a newly recognized language in Mdzo sgang, TAR. Proceedings of the 51st International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Languages and Linguistics (2018). Kyoto: Kyoto University.

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