Information about the Austro-Asiatic languages

Where are the Austro-Asiatic languages spoken?

These languages are spoken in Southeast Asia in India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, mainland Malaysia, and the Nicobar Islands.

Total number of speakers (estimated):

Approximately 80 000 000 according to Laval University, but Vietnamese alone accounts for 66 000 000 and Khmer 7 000 000. These two languages cover 90% of the speakers of languages of the family as a whole.

Classification :

The Austro-Asiatic family includes more than 150 languages.

Munda Languages

Koraput

Remo Branch

Bodo Gadaba (alternate name: gutob)

Bondo (alternate name: remo)

Gata (alternate name: gta)

Savara Branch

Juray

Lodhi

Parengi (alternate name: gorum; parenga)

Sora (alternate name: Savara)

“Core Munda” Languages

Kharian-Juang

Juang

Kharian

North Munda languages

Korku

Kherwarian

Kherwari Branch

Agariya

Bijor

Kodaku

Mundari Branch

Asuri

Bhumij

Birhors

Ho

Koda

Mundari

Santali Branch

Mahali

Santali

Turi

Khasi-Khmuic Languages = North Mon-Khmer Languages

Khasiani

Khasi

Pnar

War

Languages Palaungo-Khmuic

Khmuic

Khao

Bit

Khao

Mlabri

Mlabri

Yumbri

Xin Muhl

Khang

Phong Kniang

Puoc

Khmu ‘

Khmu ‘

Khuen

O’du

Lua ‘

Mal

Phray

Phai (alternate name: prai)

Palaungo-Pakanic Languages

Pakanic or Palyu

Bugan (alternate names: Bogan; Pukan)

Buxin

Kemie

Kuan

Mang

Paliu (alternate names: bolyu; lai)

Palaungic

Palaung-Riang

Con

Lamet

Pale (alternate names: silver Palaung)

Rumai

Riang

Shwe (alternate names: Gold Palaung; De’ang)

Yinchia

Angkuic

Angku

Hu

Mok

Samtao

Pouma

Waic

Blang

La

Lawa

Phalok (alternate name: khalo)

Wa (alternate name: paraok)

Danau

Nuclear Mon-Khmer Languages

Khmer – Vietic Languages = Eastern Mon-Khmer Languages

Vieto-Katuic Languages

Vietic

Arem

Chut

Maleng

Cuoi

Hung

Tho

Viet-Muong

Muong

Vietnamese

Aheu

Katuic

Katu

Dakkang

Kantu

Katu

Phuong

Triw

Kui-Bru

Bru

Kuy

So

Sui

Ta’Oi-Kriang

Chatong

Ir

Ngeq (alternate name: Kriang)

Ta’Oi

Pacoh

Khmer-Bahnaric Language

Bahnaric

Bahnaric Central Group

Alak

Bahnar

Kaco ‘

Lamang

Romam

Tampuan

North Bahnaric Group

Northeast Bahnaric

Cua

Kayong

Takua

Northwest Bahnaric

Halang

Halang Doan

Hre

Jeh

Monom

Rengao

Sedang

Talieng

Todrah

Trieng

Katua

South Bahnaric

Chrau

Koho-Sre

Mnong

Stieng-Biet

West Bahnaric

Brao-Kavet

Laven

Nyaheun

Oi-The

Khmeric Group

Khmer dialect cluster

Pearic (Cambodia)

Chong

Pear

Sa’och

Somray

Samre

Suoy

Nico-Monic languages = South Mon-Khmer

Nicobar Languages

Car

Chaura

Southern Nicobarese

Central Nicobarese

Shom Peng

Teressa

Asli-Monic languages

Aslian

Semang = Jahaic

Batek

Chewong (alternate name: Cheq Wong)

Jehai

Kensiu

Kintaq

Minriq

Mintil

Tonga

Senoic

Lanoh

Sabum

Semai

Semnam

Temiar

South Aslian Languages

Mah Meri

Semaq Beri

Semelai

Temoq

Jah Hut

Monic

Mon

Nyakhur

Comments on the classification of Austro-Asiatic languages:

The classification presented here is based on that of Diffloth (2005)

The classification of the Katuic languages is controversial, Sidwell doubts their membership in the Hmon-khmer group. The exact placement of Danau within the Austro-Asiatic languages is also uncertain.

Are Austro-Asiatic languages in danger?

This section will be developed later

Some sites to learn more:

Page dedicated to the family Austroasiatic on the site of the University Laval

Website by David Stampe and Patricia Donegan, University of Hawaii, on the Austro-Asiatic languages where you will find lexicons for Sora, Gorum, Gutob, Remo, Gata, Kharia, Juang, Korku and Santali as well as typologies, bibliographies and maps

Site devoted to the Ho language by K. David Harrison and Gregory Anderson where you will find a dictionary and an alphabet

Site devoted to the Santali language and culture where you will find a Santali-English dictionary.

Sealang Site for the preservation of Mon-Khmer languages where you will find dictionaries

Mon Grammar

Article devoted to S’aoch language (in Spanish).

Sources:

Diffloth, Gerard. Austro-Asiatic Languages. Encyclopaedia Britannica. 480-484 (1974)

Diffloth, Gerard. “The contribution of linguistic palaeontology to the homeland of Austro-Asiatic. In: Sagart, Laurent, Roger Blench and Alicia Sanchez-Mazas (eds.). The Peopling of East Asia: Putting Together Archeology, Linguistics and Genetics. RoutledgeCurzon. PP79-82. (2005)

Sidwell, P. The Katuic languages: classification, reconstruction and comparative lexicon. LINCOM studies in Asian linguistics, 58. Muenchen: Lincom Europa (2005)