Khmuic languages

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

Languages

The Khmuic languages are:

• Mlabri (Yumbri)
• Kniang (Phong 3, Tay Phong)
• Ksingmul (Puok, Pou Hok, Khsing-Mul)
• Khmu’
• Khuen
• O’du
• Prai
• Mal (Thin)
• Theen (Kha Sam Liam)

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 Kháng. 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.

Classification

The interrelationships of these languages are uncertain. Ethnologue 19 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

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

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

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.

Peiros (2004)

Ilia Peiros (Peiros 2004:39) 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 (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 Kniang, Phong Piat (Phong Saloey) Tayten

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

Further reading

• Chazée, Laurent. 1999. The Peoples of Laos: Rural and Ethnic Diversities. Bangkok: White Lotus.
• Cheeseman, Nathaniel; Paul Sidwell and Anne Osborne. 2017. . 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. [Includes a reconstruction of Proto-T’inic]
• Peiros, Ilia J. 2004. Geneticeskaja klassifikacija aystroaziatskix jazykov. Moskva: Rossijskij gosudarstvennyj gumanitarnyj universitet (doktorskaja dissertacija).
• Sidwell, Paul. 2014. " 2016-02-03 at theWayback Machine". Mon-Khmer Studies 43.1:47-56

External links

• 2018-05-26 at theWayback Machine
• http://hdl.handle.net/10050/00-0000-0000-0003-66E8-9@view Khmuic languages in RWAAI Digital Archive