Mondzish languages
Mondzish is a small group of languages that constitute the most divergent branch of the Lolo–Burmese languages in the classification of Lama. The Mondzish languages are spoken in Funing, Guangnan, Malipo, and Napo counties of China and Hà Giang and Cao Bang provinces of northern Vietnam. The autonyms of Mondzish-speaking peoples often begins with *man-. Lama considers *man- to be cognate with Mán, which is an ancient Chinese exonym for non-Chinese peoples to the south.
Mondzish languages are spoken in Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan, China and across the border in Hà Giang Province, Vietnam. According to Hsiu, Kathu is related.
Classification
Hsiu classifies the Mondzish languages as follows. Additional languages from Hsiu are also included.A revised classification of Mondzish languages by Hsiu is as follows.
- Mondzish
- *Northwestern Mondzish: Kathu, Thou
- *Core Mondzish
- **Southern Mondzish: Mondzi / Mantsi cluster
- **Southeastern Mondzish: Meang / Maang cluster
- **Eastern Mondzish
- ***Mango / Manga cluster
- ***Mongphu
- ***Maza
- **Central Mondzish
- ***Muangphe
- ***Mauphu, Motang
Sound changes
Lama lists the following sound changes from Proto-Loloish as Mondzish innovations.- *
- *
- *