Bu–Nao
Bunu languages
EthnicityBunu
Geographic
distribution		Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou, China[1]
Native speakers
390,000 (2001)[1]
Linguistic classificationHmong–Mien
Subdivisions
ISO 639-3bwx
Glottologbuna1280

The Bu–Nao or Bunu languages are a Hmongic (Miao) language branch spoken in Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou in China. Its speakers are officially classified as ethnic Yao but speak Hmongic languages. The branch consists of three languages, which are Bunu (or Bunu proper), Baonao (Nao Klao), and Numao. The term Bu–Nao is a portmanteau of Bunu and Nao Klao.

Classification

Speakers of Bu–Nao languages are officially classified as Yao people by the Chinese government, although they speak Hmongic languages rather than Mienic languages. Strecker (1987) had classified Bunu proper as a Western (Chuanqiandian) Hmongic language, and the other "Bunu" languages—Younuo (Yuno), Wunai (Hm Nai), and 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 Bunu, Baonao, and Numao.[1]

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

  1. 1 2 3 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.
  2. ↑ Ratliff, Martha (2010). Hmong-Mien Language History. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. hdl:1885/146760. ISBN 978-0-85883-615-0.
  3. ↑ 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）。
  4. ↑ 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.
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