Khmuic languages

In this article we are going to explore the fascinating world of Khmuic languages. Whether we are talking about the life of a historical figure, a current topic, an important date or any other relevant topic, Khmuic languages is a topic that undoubtedly captures our attention. Along these lines, we are going to delve into its importance, analyze its implications and discover why Khmuic languages is so relevant these days. Join us on this journey of discovery and be surprised by everything we have to learn about Khmuic languages.

Khmuic
Geographic
distribution		Indochina
Linguistic classificationAustroasiatic
  • Khmuic
Proto-languageProto-Khmuic
Language codes
ISO 639-3–
Glottologkhmu1236

The Khmuic languages /kəˈmuːɪk/ are a branch of the Austroasiatic languages spoken mostly in northern Laos, as well as in neighboring northern Vietnam and southern Yunnan, China. Khmu is the only widely spoken language in the group.

Homeland

Paul Sidwell (2015)[1] suggests that the Khmuic Urheimat (homeland) was in what is now Oudomxay Province, northern Laos.

Languages

The Khmuic languages are:

Similarly, Phuoc (Xinh Mul) and Kháng are also sometimes classified as Mangic, and Kháng is classified as Palaungic by Diffloth.

Bumang, formerly classified as Khmuic, is classified as a Palaungic language by Paul Sidwell. Jerold A. Edmondson considers it to be most closely related to Khang. Also, Quang Lam is a poorly attested language in Vietnam that is closely related to Kháng or Bit. (See Bit–Khang languages)

Khmuic language history and diversity are currently being researched by Nathaniel Hiroz.[2]

Classification

The interrelationships of these languages are uncertain. Ethnologue 19 classifies them as follows:

A provisional classification at SEALang[3] keeps Mal–Phrai, but connects Khao with Khang instead of with Bit, treats Khuen as a dialect of Khmu':

Diffloth & Proschan (1989)

Chazée (1999), citing Diffloth & Proschan (1989), has the following:

However, Gérard Diffloth now considers Pramic (i.e., all Khmuic languages except for Khmu) to be a separate Austroasiatic branch that has come under heavy influence from Khmu.[4]

Peiros (2004)

Ilia Peiros (Peiros 2004:39) gives the following classification:

Sidwell (2014)

Based on developments of Proto-Khmuic *aː₁, Paul Sidwell (2014) classifies the Khmuic languages as follows.

The developments of Proto-Khmuic *aː₁ according to Sidwell (2014) are:

  • Proto-Khmuic: *aː₁
    • Khmu: *aː
    • Proto-Mlabri-Pram: *ɛː
      • Proto-Pray-Pram: *iə
        • Proto-Pramic *iː

See also

References

  1. ^ Sidwell, Paul. 2015. The Palaungic Languages: Classification, Reconstruction and Comparative Lexicon Archived 2019-10-23 at the Wayback Machine. München: Lincom Europa.
  2. ^ "Nathaniel Hiroz". Institut für Sprachwissenschaft. 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  3. ^ SEALang SALA: Southeast Asian Linguistics Archives
  4. ^ Sidwell, Paul. 2018. Austroasiatic Studies: state of the art in 2018 Archived 2019-05-03 at the Wayback Machine. Presentation at the Graduate Institute of Linguistics, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan, May 22, 2018.

Further reading

  • Chazée, Laurent. 1999. The Peoples of Laos: Rural and Ethnic Diversities. Bangkok: White Lotus.
  • Cheeseman, Nathaniel; Paul Sidwell and Anne Osborne. 2017. Khmuic Linguistic Bibliography with Selected Annotations. JSEALS vol. 10 issue 1. pages i-xlvi.
  • Filbeck, David. 1978. T’in: a historical study. Pacifijic Linguistics Series B-49. Canberra: Australian National University.
  • Peiros, Ilia J. 2004. Geneticeskaja klassifikacija aystroaziatskix jazykov. Moskva: Rossijskij gosudarstvennyj gumanitarnyj universitet (doktorskaja dissertacija).
  • Sidwell, Paul. 2014. "Khmuic classification and homeland Archived 2016-02-03 at the Wayback Machine". Mon-Khmer Studies 43.1:47-56