Nisu language  Nisu (Southern Yi) is a language cluster spoken by half a million Yi people of China. It is one of six Yi languages recognized by the government of China. The Yi script was traditionally used, though few can still read it. According to Lama (2012), Nisu (Nishu) autonyms include ', ', and "". The position of Nisu within Nisoish is debated. Nisu is classified as Southeastern Loloish by Pelkey (2011), but is traditionally classified as a Northern Loloish language, including by Lama (2012). Chen, et al. (1985:114) recognizes 3 major varieties of "Southern Yi" (i.e., Nisu) that are spoken in Yunnan province, namely "Shijian" 石建 (Shiping-Jianshui), "Yuanjin" 元金 (Yuanjiang-Jinping), and "Exin" 峨新 (Eshan-Xinping). Autonyms include "na̠33 su55" and "na̠33 su55 pho21" (alternatively "ne̠33 su55 pho21"). Chen (1985) reported a speaker population of nearly 1.6 million. Yang (2009) classifies the Nisu dialects as follows. The Jiangcheng, Mojiang, and Lüchun varieties were grouped by Chen (1985) to be southern varieties, but Yang (2009) found that they actually belonged to the Northern Nisu group. Other Nisu or Southern Yi groups with similar autonyms or language varieties are:  A variety of Southern Nisu (autonym: "") spoken in Aka Luoduo 阿卡洛多 village (also called Taiping village 太平村), Tianfang Village 田房村, Jiangcheng County is covered in Lu Yan (2008). In Tonghai County, "Southern Yi" (Nisu) is spoken by all generations only in Xiangping 象平, Bajiao 芭蕉, Sizhai 四寨, Shikan 石坎, Pingba 平坝, Shangzhuangke 上庄科, and Xiazhuangke 下庄科 villages ("Tonghai County Gazetteer" 1992:600).