Mienic languages

The Mienic or Yao languages are spoken by the Yao people of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

"Yao languages" redirects here. For the Yao language of east Africa, see Yao language. For the extinct Yao language of Trinidad, see Yao language (Trinidad).
Mienic
Yao
Ethnicitysome of the Yao peoples
Geographic
distribution		China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, United States
Linguistic classificationHmong–Mien
  • Mienic
Proto-languageProto-Mienic
Subdivisions
Glottologmien1242
Mienic languages:
  Iu Mien & Kim Mun
  Biao Min
  Dzao Min
Not shown: Biao Mon

Some of the Yao peoples speak Hmongic languages (Miao); these are called Bunu. A small population of Yao people in Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County (金秀瑶族自治县) in eastern Guangxi speak a Tai-Kadai language called Lakkia. Other Yao peoples speak various Sinitic (Chinese) language varieties.

Classification
Distribution of Yao (Iu-Mien speakers) population in China

Mienic is one of the primary branches of the Hmong–Mien language family, with the other being Hmongic.

Ratliff (2010)

Martha Ratliff (2010:3) proposed the following classification:[1]

Strecker (1987)

Strecker 1987,[2] followed (with the addition of Moxi) by Matisoff 2001, proposed the following, with some of the more divergent varieties as additional languages:

Luang-Thongkum (1993)

Luang-Thongkum (1993:170)[3] proposes the following classification for Mjuenic, a proposed branch consisting of the Mien, Mun, and Muen (Biao Mon) languages. The classifications of Biao Min and Dzao Min are not addressed.

  • Proto-Mjuenic
    • Mun
      • West Mun (Landian Yao 蓝靛瑶)
      • East Mun (Shanzi Yao 山子瑶)
    • (Mien-Muen)
      • Muen (Ao Yao 坳瑶)
      • Mien (Pan Yao 盘瑶)
        • North Mien
        • East Mien, West Mien

Mao (2004)

Mao Zongwu (2004) classifies the Mienic languages varieties of China as follows. Data points studied in Mao (2004) are also listed for each dialect.

  • Mien 勉: 550,000 speakers
    • Guangdian 广滇 dialect: 400,000 speakers
      • Dapingjiang, Jianxin village, Jiangdi township, Longsheng County (龙胜县江底乡建新村大坪江屯)
      • Shinongjiao village, Daxiaohe township, Guanyang County (灌阳县大小河乡石弄脚村)
      • Xianjiacao, Liuding village, Sanjiao township, Jinxiu County (金秀县三角乡六定村仙家槽屯)
      • Fengle village, Panshi township, Rongjiang County (榕江县盘石乡丰乐村)
      • Miaozhu village, Gongkeng township, Ruyuan County (乳源县公坑乡苗竹村)
      • Shuizi'ao village, Liangchahe township, Jianghua County (江华县两岔河乡水子坳村)
      • Yanbian village, Shilixiang township, Jinping County (云南省红河哈尼族彝族自治州金平苗族瑶族傣族自治县十里香乡百岩边村)[4]
    • Xiangnan 湘南 dialect: 130,000 speakers
      • Miaoziyuan village, Xiangjiang township, Jianghua County (湖南永州市江华瑶族自治县湘江乡庙子源村)
      • Ganziyuan village, Mianhuaping township, Ningyuan County (湖南省永州市宁远县棉花坪乡柑子园村)
    • Luoxiang 罗香 (Ao Biao 坳标) dialect: 3,000 speakers
      • Luoxiang township, Jinxiu County (广西来宾市金秀瑶族自治县罗香乡罗香村)
    • Changping 长坪 (Biao Man 标曼) dialect: 20,000 speakers in the counties of Mengshan, Pingdong, Zhaoping, and Lipu
      • Dongpingdong village, Changping township, Mengshan County (广西壮族自治区梧州市蒙山县长坪乡东坪垌村)
  • Jinmen 金门: 220,000 speakers
    • Diangui 滇桂 dialect: 166,000 speakers
      • Xinzhai village, Liangzi township, Hekou County (云南省红河哈尼族彝族自治州河口瑶族自治县梁子乡新寨村)[5]
      • Nacai village, Dulong township, Malipo County (云南省文山麻栗坡县都龙乡那才村)
      • Suoshanjiao village, Yaoqu township, Mengla County (云南省勐腊县瑶区乡梭山脚村)[6]
      • Lanjin township, Lingyun County (广西壮族自治区百色市凌云县览金乡览金村)
      • Xintun, Jiajiang village, Sanjiao township, Jinxiu County (广西壮族自治区来宾市金秀瑶族自治县三角乡甲江村新屯)
    • Fanghai 防海 dialect: 60,000 speakers
      • Tansan township, Fangcheng District (广西壮族自治区防城县十万大山区滩散乡滩散村)
      • Xin'an village, Daping township, Qiongzhong County (海南省琼中黎族苗族自治县大平乡新安村)
  • Biao Min 标敏: 40,000 speakers
    • Dongshan 东山 dialect: 35,000 speakers
      • Shuanglong, Huanglong village, Dongshan township, Quanzhou County (全州县东山乡黄龙村双龙屯)
    • Shikou 石口 dialect: 8,000 speakers
      • Shikou village, Sanjiang township, Gongcheng County (恭城县三江乡石口村)
    • Niuweizhai 牛尾寨 dialect: 2,000 speakers
      • Niuwei village, Sanjiang township, Gongcheng County (恭城县三江乡牛尾村)
  • Zao Min 藻敏: 60,000 speakers

A Mienic lect called bjau2 mwan2 ("Biao Man 标曼"), related to Mien of Changping and Luoxiang, is spoken in Liuchong 六冲, Qiaoting Township 桥亭乡, Pingle County 平乐县, Guangxi (Tang 1994); another "Biao Man 标曼" dialect is spoken in Dongpingdong 东坪洞 (Tang 1994).[7] There are about 10,000 speakers in Mengshan, Lipu, Pingle, and Zhaoping counties.

The comparative vocabulary chart in Mao Zongwu (2004) consists of the following languages.

  1. Guangdian Mien (Jiangdi); autonym: mjen31
  2. Diangui Kim Mun (Liangzi); autonym: kjeːm33 mun33
  3. Dongshan Biao Min; autonym: bjau31 min31
  4. Daping Dzao Min; autonym: dzau53 min53
  5. Xiangnan Mien (Miaoziyuan); autonym: mjəŋ31
  6. Changping Mien ( = Biao Mon); autonym: bjau31 moːn31
  7. Luoxiang Mien; autonym: bjau31 mwan31
  8. Fanghai Kim Mun (Tansan); autonym: kiːm33 mun33
  9. Shikou Biao Min ( = Chao Kong Meng); autonym: mɔu31 jɔu55
  10. Niuweizhai Biao Min ( = Moxi); autonym: mɔ433 ɕi53

Aumann & Sidwell (2004)

Using Mao's (2004) new data, Aumann & Sidwell (2004) propose the following classification of the Mienic languages, based on innovations in rhotic consonants.[8] This classification presents a bipartite division of the Mienic into a subgroup consisting of Iu Mien and Biao Min, and another subgroup consisting of Kim Mun and Dzao Min. Luoxiang is grouped with Kim Mun, while Changping is grouped with Dzao Min.

Aumann & Sidwell (2004) consider the following classification by Wang & Mao to be unlikely, which is based on the voicing of voiceless sonorants, a common areal feature.

Taguchi (2012)

Yoshihisa Taguchi's (2012) computational phylogenetic study classifies the Mienic languages as follows.[9]

Hmongic

Mienic 

Zao Min

Biao Min (Dongshan)

Biao Min (Shikou)

Kim Mun (Diangui)

Mien (Changping, Luoxiang)

Mien (Guangdian, Xiangnan)

Hsiu (2018)

Hsiu's (2018)[10] computational phylogenetic study classifies the Mienic languages as follows.

  • Mienic
    • Zao Min
    • Greater Biao Min
      • Biao Min (Dongshan)
      • Biao Min (Guanyang)
      • Moyou (Shikou)
      • Moxi (Niuweizhai)
    • Greater Biao Mon
      • Biao Mon (Changping Mien)
      • Biao Mwan (Luoxiang Mien) (?)
    • Kim Mun
    • Iu Mien

Hsiu (2018) considers Changping Mien to have been influenced by Kim Mun lects due to geographical proximity, although it retains many unique forms that indicate it should belong in its own branch.

Hsiu (2023)

Hsiu (2023) announced the discovery of the previously undocumented Yangchun Pai Yao, likely a sister branch to Dzao Min, or possibly belonging to its own branch outright.[11]

Mixed languages

Some languages may be mixed Chinese and Mienic (Yao) languages, such as:

  • Various Lowland Yao languages (平地瑶话) that are unclassified Sinitic languages, such as:
  • Shaozhou Tuhua, the language of the nüshu script, is an unclassified variety of Chinese spoken by ethnic Yao. Its origin is obscure, but it may have started out as a Sinicized Mienic language.[12]
  • Shehua, spoken mostly in Zhejiang and Fujian

Numerals
Numerals in Mienic Languages[13]
Language One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten
Proto-Hmong-Mien *ʔɨ *ʔu̯i *pjɔu *plei *prja *kruk *dzjuŋH *jat *N-ɟuə *gju̯əp
Iu Mien jet12 i33 pwo33 pjei33 pia33 tɕu55 sje13 ɕet12 dwo31 tsjop12
Ao Biao (Luoxiang) jit43 vi33 pu33 pje33 pla33 kwo43 ȵi11 jat32 du31 ɕep32
Biao Mon (Changping) no35 i33 pu33 plei33 pla33 kju53 ŋi22 jaːt21 du21 sjəp21
Kim Mun a33 i35 ˀpɔ35 pjei35 pja35 kjo35 ȵi42 jet55 du33 ʃap42
Biao Min i33 wəi33 pau33 pləi33 pla33 klɔ53 ni42 hjɛn42 iu31 ȶʰan42
Chao Kong Meng (Shikou) ji35 vi33 bɔu33 pli33 pla53 klɔ35 ŋi13 jæ22 tɕu55 tɕæ22
Moxi (Niuweizhai) i33 wei33 pəu33 pɣɯi33 pɤa33 kɤɔ55 ɕi31 hjɯ53 du53 tɕʰwa53
Dzao Min a44 vi42 bu42 pɛi42 pjɛ42 tɔu44 ȵi22 dzat22 ku53 sjɛp22

See also

References
  1. Ratliff, Martha. 2010. Hmong–Mien language history. Canberra, Australia: Pacific Linguistics.
  2. Strecker, David. 1987. "The Hmong-Mien Languages." In Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area, 10 , no. 2: 1-11.
  3. Luang-Thongkum, Theraphan. 1993. A view on Proto-Mjuenic (Yao). Mon-Khmer Studies 22:163-230.
  4. location not found on map
  5. "河口瑶族自治县瑶山乡梁子村委会新寨自然村". www.ynszxc.gov.cn. Archived from the original on 2014-12-18.
  6. "勐腊县瑶区瑶族乡黄莲山村委会梭山脚". www.ynszxc.gov.cn. Archived from the original on 2014-12-18.
  7. Tang Yongliang 唐永亮. 1994. 瑶族勉语六冲标曼话语音特点和声调实验研究. Minzu Yuwen 1994:5.
  8. Aumann, Greg and Paul Sidwell. 2004. "Subgrouping of Mienic Languages: Some Observations." In Papers from the Eleventh Annual Meeting of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society, edited by Somsonge Burusphat. Tempe, Arizona, 13-27. Arizona State University, Program for Southeast Asian Studies.
  9. Yoshihisa Taguchi [田口善久] (2012). On the Phylogeny of the Hmong-Mien languages Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. Conference in Evolutionary Linguistics 2012.
  10. Hsiu, Andrew. 2018. Preliminary classification of Mienic languages.
  11. Hsiu, Andrew (May 16–18, 2023). "The Pai Yao language of Yangchun: Final remnants of a Mienic language". Southeast Asian Linguistics Society. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
  12. Cited in Chiang (1995) We two know the script, we have become good friends, p. 28, footnote 43.
  13. "Miao-Yao". lingweb.eva.mpg.de. Archived from the original on 2009-05-19.
  • Mao Zongwu [毛宗武]. 2004. A study of Mien dialects [Yao zu Mian yu fang yan yan jiu 瑤族勉语方言研究]. Beijing: Ethnic Publishing House [民族出版社].

Further reading
Sources with word lists of Mienic languages
  • Đoàn Thiện Thuật; Mai Ngọc Chừ. 1992. Tiếng Dao. Hà Nội: Nhà xuất bản khoa học xã hội.
  • Duan Shanshu [段善述]; Mei Yuzhu [梅玉诸]; Pan Meihua [盘美花] (ed). 2013. Yao languages of Vietnam [越南瑶语]. Beijing: Ethnic Publishing House [民族出版社]. ISBN 9787105128228
  • Liu Hongyong [刘鸿勇] (2016). Yuebei Ruyuan Guoshan Yao Mianyu yanjiu [粤北乳源过山瑶勉语研究]. Beijing: Wenhua yishu chubanshe [文化艺术出版社].
  • Phan Hữu Dật & Hoàng Hoa Toàn. 1998. "Về vấn đề xác minh tên gọi và phân loại các ngành Dao Tuyên Quang." In Phan Hữu Dật (ed). Một số vấn đề về dân tộc học Việt Nam, p. 483-567. Hà Nội: Nhà xuất bản Đại Học Quốc Gia Hà Nội. [Comparative word list of 9 Dao dialects in Tuyen Quang Province from p. 524-545]
  • Sun Yelin [孙叶林] (2013). Xiangnan Yaoyu he Hanyu fangyan de jiechu yu yingxiang yanjiu: yi Hengyang Changning Tashan Yaozuxiang wei ge an 湘南瑶语和汉语方言的接触与影响研究——以衡阳常宁塔山瑶族乡为个案.
  • Tan Xiaoping [谭晓平]. (2012). Yuyan jiechu yu yuyan yanbian: Xiangnan Yaozu Jiangyong Mianyu ge an yanjiu 语言接触与语言演变——湘南瑶族江永勉语个案研究. Wuhan: Huazhong Normal University Publishing House 华中师范大学出版社.
  • Zheng Zongze [郑宗泽] (2011). Jianghua Mianyu yanjiu [江华勉语研究]. Beijing: Ethnic Publishing House [民族出版社].
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