Khmuic languages


The Khmuic languages 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

suggests that the Khmuic Urheimat was in what is now Oudomxay Province, northern Laos.

Languages

The Khmuic languages are:
  • Mlabri
  • Kniang
  • Ksingmul
  • Khmu’
  • Khuen
  • O’du
  • Prai
  • Mal
  • Theen
Similarly, Phuoc 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 Kháng. Also, Quang Lam is a poorly attested language in Vietnam that is closely related to Kháng or Bit.
Khmuic language history and diversity are currently being researched by Nathaniel Hiroz.

Classification

The interrelationships of these languages are uncertain. Ethnologue 19 classifies them as follows:
A provisional classification at SEALang 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, citing Diffloth & Proschan, has the following:
  • Khmuic
  • *
  • *Khmu
  • *Phray–Pram
  • **Mlabri
  • **Phay / Mal / T'in
  • **
  • ***Ksing Moul
  • ***Pramic
  • ****Tai Hat
  • ****Tai Then
  • ****Phong Laan, Phong Phène, Phong Tapouang
  • ****Kaniang, Phong Piat
However, Gérard Diffloth now considers Pramic to be a separate Austroasiatic branch that has come under heavy influence from Khmu.

Peiros (2004)

gives the following classification:
  • Khmuic
  • *
  • **Khang
  • **Bit
  • *
  • **Mlabri–Pray
  • ***Mlabri
  • ***Pray
  • **
  • ***Kmu
  • ***
  • ****Kxinh Mul
  • ****Ksinmul
  • ***
  • ****Phong-Kniang
  • ****''Iduh''

    Sidwell (2014)

Based on developments of Proto-Khmuic *aː₁, Paul Sidwell 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
  • ****Kniang, Phong Piat
  • ****Tayten
The developments of Proto-Khmuic *aː₁ according to Sidwell are:
  • Proto-Khmuic: *aː₁
  • *Khmu: *aː
  • *Proto-Mlabri-Pram: *ɛː
  • **Proto-Pray-Pram: *iə
  • ***Proto-Pramic *iː