Khmuic languages

Khmuic
Geographic distribution:	Indochina
Linguistic classification:	Austroasiatic Khmuic
Glottolog:	khmu1236[1]
Khmuic

The Khmuic languages are a branch of the Austroasiatic languages. Khmu is the only language in the group that has a large number of speakers.

Languages

The Khmuic languages are:

• Bit, Mlabri (Yumbri), Khang (Mang U’), Phong (Kniang, Tay Phong), Puoc (Puok, Pou Hok, Khsing-Mul), Khmu’, Khuen, O’du, Lua’ (Pray), Mal (Thin), Phray (Pray), Phai (Pray, Theen, Kha Sam Liam)

There is some disagreement over whether Bit is Khmuic or Palaungic; Svantesson believes it is most likely Palaungic,^[2] and it is sometimes placed in Mangic, but most classifications here take them as Khmuic. Similarly, Phuoc (Xinh Mul) and Khang are also sometimes classified as Mangic.

The recently discovered Bumang language is also likely a Khmuic or Palaungic language. Jerold A. Edmondson considers it to be most closely related to Khang. Also, Quang Lam is a poorly attested language in Vietnam that may be closely related to Khang or Bit.

Classification

The interrelationships of these languages are uncertain. Ethnologue 18 classifies them as follows:

• Khmuic
  • Khao: Khao, Bit
  • Mlabri: Mlabri
  • Xinh Mul: Khang, Phong-Kniang, Puoc
  • Mal–Khmu’
    • Khmu’, Khuen, O’du
    • Mal–Phrai: Lua’, Mal, Prai, Pray 3

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':

• Khmuic
  • Bit
  • Khao–Khang: Khao, Khang
  • Mlabri
  • Phong
  • Puoc
  • Khmu’
  • O’du
  • Mal–Phrai: Lua’, Mal, Phray, Phai

Diffloth & Proschan (1989)

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

• Khmuic
  • (Khang?)
  • Khmu
  • Phray–Pram
    • Mlabri
    • Phay/Mal/T'in
    • (Branch)
      • Ksing Moul (Ksongmul)
      • Pramic
        • Tai Hat (Iduh)
        • Tai Then
        • Phong Laan, Phong Phène, Phong Tapouang
        • Kaniang, Phong Piat, (Phong Saloey)

Peiros (2004)

Ilia Peiros (Peiros 2004:39) has the following:

• Khmuic
  • (Branch)
    • Khang
    • Bit
  • (Branch)
    • Mlabri–Pray
      • Mlabri
      • Pray
    • (Branch)
      • Kmu
      • (Branch)
        • Kxinh Mul
        • Ksinmul
      • (Branch)
        • Phong
        • Iduh

Sidwell (2014)

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

Khmuic

• Khmu
• Mlabri-Pram
  • Mlabri
  • Phay-Pram
    • Phay/Mal/T'in
    • Khsing Mul
    • Pramic
      • Tai Hat
      • Phong Laan, Phong Phène, Phong Tapouang
      • Kaniang, Phong Piat, (Phong Saloey)
      • Tai Then

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

• Khmu language
• Khmu people

References

1. Nordhoff, Sebastian; Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2013). "Khmuic". Glottolog. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
2. Ethnolgue Report for Bit
3. SEALang SALA: Southeast Asian Linguistics Archives

External links

• Chazée, Laurent. 1999. The Peoples of Laos: Rural and Ethnic Diversities. Bangkok: White Lotus.
• Peiros, Ilia J. 2004. Geneticeskaja klassifikacija aystroaziatskix jazykov. Moskva: Rossijskij gosudarstvennyj gumanitarnyj universitet (doktorskaja dissertacija).
• Sidwell, Paul. 2014. "Khmuic classification and homeland". Mon-Khmer Studies 43.1:47-56
• http://projekt.ht.lu.se/rwaai RWAAI (Repository and Workspace for Austroasiatic Intangible Heritage)
• http://hdl.handle.net/10050/00-0000-0000-0003-66E8-9@view Khmuic languages in RWAAI Digital Archive