Rukai Language - Classification

Classification

Mantauran is one of the most divergent dialects. Li (2001) classifies them as follows:

  • Rukai
    • Mantauran (萬山 Wanshan): 250–300 speakers
    • (Main branch)
      • Maga–Tona
        • Maga (馬加 Majia)
        • Tona (多納 Duona)
      • Budai–Tanan (Rukai Proper)
        • Budai (霧台 Wutai)
        • Tanan (大南 Danan; also Taromak)

Li considers Rukai to be the first language to have split from Proto-Austronesian. Below are the estimated divergence dates of various Formosan languages from Li (2008:215).

  1. Proto-Austronesian: 4,500 BCE
  2. Rukai: 3,000 BCE
  3. Tsouic: 2,500 BCE (split into Tsou and Southern Tsouic around 1,000 BCE)
  4. Most other splits: 2,000 to 0 BCE
  5. Western Plains: 1,000 CE

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