Classification
In 1966, a lexicostatistical analysis of various Mon-Khmer languages in Indochina was performed by SIL linguists David Thomas and Richard Phillips. This study resulted in the recognition of two distinct new subbranches of Mon-Khmer, namely Katuic and Bahnaric (Sidwell 2009).
Data for adequate classification of the Mon–Khmer Katuic languages only become available after the opening of Laos to foreign researchers in the 1990s. The following classification is that of Sidwell (2003). Sidwell (2005) casts doubt on Diffloth's Vieto-Katuic hypothesis, saying that the evidence is ambiguous, and that it is not clear where Katuic belongs in the family. Additionally, Sidwell (2009) considers the Katu branch to be the most conservative subgroup of Katuic, while all the other branches have developed more innovations.
- Katu branch (Thap):
- Katu (Low Katu, Laos)
- Phuong (High Katu, Vietnam)
- Kui–Bru branch (West Katuic):
- Bru (Laos and Thailand)
- Kuy (Thailand)
- Pacoh language (Tareng) (Vietnam and Laos)
- Ta'Oi–Kriang branch (Laos):
- Ngeq/Kriang (Khlor/Lor)
- Ta’Oi, Ir
Ethnologue also lists Kassang, but that is a Bahnaric language (Sidwell 2003).
Kuy and Bru each have around half a million speakers, while the Ta’Oi cluster has around 200,000 speakers.
Read more about this topic: West Katuic Languages