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Tibeto-Burman

  • George van Driem (Editor)

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterResearch

    Abstract

    The Tibeto-Burman linguistic phylum was identified in 1823. However, the term Tibeto-Burman was subsequently used in two different meanings, one by scholars following Julius von Klaproth's polyphyletic framework and another by scholars operating within the Indo-Chinese or Sino-Tibetan paradigm. The essential differences between the two lineages of thought are contrasted, and the evidence is weighed. The structure of the language family as a whole is presented with special reference to the historical discourse surrounding Sinitic. The geographical distribution of major subgroups and the phylogeny of the language family provide clues to Tibeto-Burman ethnolinguistic population prehistory and the ancestry of Sinitic. Several alternative theories of linguistic relationship are discussed. The languages belonging to the same linguistic phylum as Chinese and their locations are presented.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationThe Oxford Handbook of Chinese Linguistics
    EditorsWilliam S-Y Wang, Chaofen Sun
    Place of PublicationNew York, United States of America
    PublisherOxford University Press
    Pages135-148
    Edition1
    ISBN (Print)9780199856343, 9780199856336
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015

    Publication series

    NameOxford handbooks in linguistics

    Keywords

    • Language Studies

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