Bu–Nao languages
(Redirected from
Bu-Nao language
)| Bu–Nao | |
|---|---|
| Bunu languages | |
| Ethnicity | Bunu |
| Geographic distribution | Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou, China[1] |
Native speakers | 390,000 (2001)[1] |
| Linguistic classification | Hmong–Mien
|
| Subdivisions | |
| ISO 639-3 | bwx |
| Glottolog | buna1280 |
The Bu–Nao or Bunu languages are a
portmanteau
of Bunu and Nao Klao.
Classification
Speakers of Bu–Nao languages are officially classified as
Jiongnai (Kiong Nai)—as distinct branches of Hmongic. Matisoff (2001) grouped all of these together in a Bunu branch of Hmongic (that is, outside Western Hmongic). Ratliff (2010) classified Bunu within Western Hmongic and moved Jiongnai to its own peripheral branch of Hmongic.[2] Wang & Deng (2003) classify the Bu–Nao languages as a cousin branch of Western Hmongic, and Jiongnai and Younuo as independent branches.[3]
Language varieties
Bu–Nao language varieties are spoken by a total of 390,000 speakers. They can be divided into three major clusters, namely
Intelligibility among these varieties is difficult, and they may also be considered separate languages. Strecker (1987) suggested they may not form a group at all, but separate languages within West Hmongic.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Meng, Chaoji 蒙朝吉 (2001). Yáozú Bùnǔyǔ fāngyán yánjiū 瑤族布努语方言研究 [A Study of the Bunu Dialects of the Yao People] (in Chinese). Beijing: Minzu chubanshe.
- ISBN 978-0-85883-615-0.
- ^ 王士元、邓晓华，《苗瑶语族语言亲缘关系的计量研究——词源统计分析方法》，《中国语文》，2003（294）。
- ^ Strecker, David (1987). "Some Comments on Benedict's "Miao–Yao Enigma: The Na-e Language"" (PDF). Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area. 10 (2): 22–42.