Languages
Sun (1983) proposes two branches, northern and southern:
- Northern: Northern Qiang (Máwō), Pumi (Prinmi), Muya (Minyag), Tangut (extinct; attested 1036–1502)
- Southern: Southern Qiang (Táopíng).
Matisoff (2004) states that Jiarongic is an additional branch:
- Jiarongic: Gyarung, Lavrung, Horpa (Ergong)
Sun groups other, poorly described Qiangic languages as:
- Ersu (Tosu), Shixing, Namuzi (Namuyi)
- Guiqiong (2–3 varieties with low intelligibility)
- Zhaba, Queyu.
Thurgood and La Polla (2003) state that the inclusion of Qiang, Prinmi, and Muya is well supported, but that they do not follow Sun's argument for the inclusion of Tangut. Matisoff (2004), however, claims Tangut demonstrates a clear relationship. The unclassified language Baima may also be Qiangic, or may retain a Qiangic substratum after speakers shifted to Tibetan.
Read more about this topic: Qiangic Languages
Famous quotes containing the word languages:
“The trouble with foreign languages is, you have to think before your speak.”
—Swedish proverb, trans. by Verne Moberg.
“The less sophisticated of my forbears avoided foreigners at all costs, for the very good reason that, in their circles, speaking in tongues was commonly a prelude to snake handling. The more tolerant among us regarded foreign languages as a kind of speech impediment that could be overcome by willpower.”
—Barbara Ehrenreich (b. 1941)
“It is time for dead languages to be quiet.”
—Natalie Clifford Barney (1876–1972)