Central Tai languages

Southern dialects of Zhuang, and various Nung and Tày dialects of northern Vietnam

"Central Tai" redirects here. For Central Thai, see Thai language.

Central Tai

(controversial)
Geographic
distribution| China, Vietnam
Linguistic classification| Kra–Dai

* Kam–Tai?
* Be–Tai?
* Tai
* Central Tai

Subdivisions|

* (see Tai languages)

Language codes
Glottolog| None
deba1238 (Debao–Jingxi–Nung)

Geographic distribution of Central Tai languages

The Central Tai languages include southern dialects of Zhuang, and various Nung and Tày dialects of northern Vietnam.

Central Tai languages differ from Northern Tai languages in that Central Tai distinguishes unaspirated and aspirated onsets, while Northern Tai generally does not (Li 1977). Southwestern Tai also displays this kind of aspiration contrast.

## Classification

[edit]

William Gedney considers Central Tai to be more closely related to Southwestern Tai than to Northern Tai, while André-Georges Haudricourt argues for a closer relation to Northern Tai. Pittayaporn's (2009) tentative tree of the Tai branch, however, considers Central Tai to be paraphyletic.

Certain languages in predominantly Central Tai-speaking areas, such as Caolan and Nùng An[1] in northern Vietnam, display Northern Tai features as well. These appear to be mixed languages that are not fully Central Tai or Northern Tai. Jerold A. Edmondson calls Caolan a "tertium quid".[2]

Jerold Edmondson's (2013)[3] computational phylogenetic analysis of the Tai languages shows Tay and Nung to be coherent branches under Central Tai.

* Central Tai
* Core Central Tai
* Nung Chau
* Pingxiang Zhuang
* Leiping Zhuang
* Ningming Zhuang
* Tay
* Tay Bao Lac
* Tay Khanh Trung
* Cao Lan
* Nung
* Nung Chao (Longzhou Zhuang)
* Nùng Phạn Slinh
* Nung Inh
* Western Nung/Nung Din (Nong Zhuang)
* Nung Yang (Yang Zhuang)
* Nung An

## Languages

[edit]

Many Central Tai languages are known as Nong 侬 (Nùng in Vietnamese) or Dai 岱 (Tày in Vietnamese).

### China

[edit]

* Longzhou
* Ningming
* Nong Zhuang
* Dai Zhuang
* Min Zhuang
* Yang Zhuang (different from Yang)
* Pyang Zhuang
* Myang Zhuang

### Vietnam

[edit]

* Nung
* Nùng Phạn Slinh
* Nùng Cháo
* Nùng Inh
* Nùng An
* Nùng Giang
* Nùng Dín (=Western Nùng or Nong Zhuang)
* Tày
* Tày Bảo Lạc
* Tày Trùng Khánh

## References

[edit]

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ Nicolson, Beth (2000), "The Nung An Language of Vietnam: Stepchild or Aberrant Son?" (PDF), The Fifth International Symposium on Languages and Linguistics
2. ^ Gregerson, Kenneth J., and Jerold A. Edmondson. 1998. Some puzzles in Cao Lan. University of Texas at Arlington.
3. ^ Edmondson, Jerold A. Tai subgrouping using phylogenetic estimation. Presented at the 46th International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Languages and Linguistics (ICSTLL 46), Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States, August 7–10, 2013 (Session: Tai-Kadai Workshop).

### Sources

[edit]

* Li, Fang-kuei. 1977. Handbook of Comparative Tai. Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaiʼi Press.
* Pittayaporn, Pittayawat. 2009. The Phonology of Proto-Tai. Ph.D. dissertation. Department of Linguistics, Cornell University.

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* t
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Kra–Dai languages

Kra|

* Laha
* Lachi
* Paha
* Buyang
* En
* Qabiao

| Gelao|

* Vandu
* A'ou
* Mulao
* Hagei
* Telue
* Qau

|

Kam–Sui|

* Mulam
* Kam (Dong)
* Cao Miao
* Nuoxi (Naxi Yao)
* Then
* Maonan
* Chadong
* Sui
* Mak
* Ai-Cham

Biao|

* Biao

Lakkia|

* Lakkia

Hlai|

* Bouhin
* Ha Em
* Lauhut
* Tongzha
* Zandui
* Baoting
* Cun
* Nadou
* Changjiang
* Moyfaw
* Baisha
* Yuanmen

Jiamao|

* Jiamao

Be–Jizhao|

* Be
* Jizhao

Tai
(Zhuang, etc.)|

| Northern|

* Standard Zhuang
* Bouyei
* Hezhang Buyi
* Yei Zhuang
* Longsang Zhuang
* E
* Saek
* Tai Yo (Nyaw)
* Yoy
* Tai Pao

|

Central|

* Nong Zhuang
* Dai Zhuang
* Min Zhuang
* Yang Zhuang
* Pyang Zhuang
* Myang Zhuang
* Nùng
* Tày
* Tsʻün-Lao

Southwestern
(Thai)|

| Northwestern|

* Shan
* Tai Ya
* Tai Nuea
* Tai Long
* Tai Hongjin
* Khamti
* Tai Laing
* Phake
* Aiton
* Khamyang
* Ahom
* Turung

|

Lao–Phutai|

* Lao
* Phu Thai
* Isan
* Tai Yo (Nyaw)
* Lao Nyo
* Kaloeng

Chiang Saen|

* Thai (Siamese)
* Northern Thai
* Tai Daeng
* Tai Meuay
* Tai Dón
* Tai Hang Tong
* Tai Lue
* Yong
* Tai Dam
* Khün
* Phuan
* Thai Song
* Tày Tac

Southern|

* Southern Thai

(other)|

* Sapa
* Pa Di
* Tai Muong Vat
* Tai Thanh
* Tai Khang
* Kuan

(mixed)|

* Cao Lan

(mixed origins)|

* Hezhang Buyi
* E
* Cao Lan
* Jiamao

proposed groupings|

* Kam–Tai

Proto-languages|

* Proto-Kra–Dai
* Proto-Kra
* Proto-Tai
* Proto-Kam–Sui
* Proto-Hlai

Italics indicate extinct languages

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* e

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