On the Phylogeny of the Hmong-Mien languages

On the Phylogeny of the Hmong-Mien languages

Yoshihisa Taguchi

田口善久

（ Chiba University, 千葉大学）

Conference in Evolutionary Linguistics 2012

The Hmong-Mien (Miao-Yao) languages

1. 　 Introduction

• This is a preliminary report on the phylogeny of the Hmong-Mien languages.

• This study explores the phylogeny of Hmong-Mien primarily based on lexical evidence but also seeks further support from phonological evidence.

• We will focus on the phylogeny of the Hmongic languages in this presentation.

2. Previous studies

Purnell (1970)• The first serious study on Hmong-Mien phylogeny

Figure 1. Hmongic phylogeny by Purnell (1970: 40)

Wang Fushi (1983)

“On the dialect division of Miao language” “苗语方言划分问题”• He classified the languages spoken by the ethnic Miao into

three dialects based on their phonological characteristics. The term “three major dialects of Miao” has been often used for designating major subgroups of the Miao language.

Wang ： Purnell 黔东方言： Eastern Miao (E)

湘西方言： Northern Miao (N)川黔滇方言： Western Miao and Central (W)

Strecker (1987)

Figure 2. Strecker’s classification of Hmong-Mien (Adapted from 1987)

Figure 3. Classification of Wang and Mao (Adapted from 1995: 2-3)

Wang and Mao (1995)

Major issues for discussion

(1)The three Miao languages (E, N, W) are considered to be sisters of equal level.

(2)The positions of Pa Hng( 巴哼 ), Kiong Nai( 炯奈 ), and Ho Ne( 畲 ) are controversial.

(3)The overall classification is mainly constructed according to the authors’ impression, without supporting evidence, or the supporting evidence fails to distinguish innovations and retentions.

Deng and Wang (2003)

Figure 4. Phylogeny of Hmong-Mien in Deng and Wang (2003)

3. Method of analysis

A method of computer-based lexicostatistics that utilizes Bayesian inference is used. The software used in this study was Mrbayes (http://mrbayes.sourceforge.net/index.php).

• It is a character-based method.• It identifies the best trees with credibility scores.• Its validity has been widely acknowledged in

linguistics and biology (Gray and Atkinson 2003, Greenhill and Gray 2009)

http://mrbayes.sourceforge.net/index.php



Table 1. Data points and sources Name of lect Data point Source

1 Hmu, Qiandong 黔东 dialect of Miao Yanghao 养蒿 , Guizhou Wang 1985

2 Sichuan-Guizhou-Yunnan, Chuanqiandian 川黔滇 subdialect of Chuanqiandian dialect, Hmong

Dananshan 大南山 , Guizhou

Wang 1985

3 Qo Xiong, Xiangxi 湘西 dialect Jiwei 吉卫 , Hunan Wang 1985

4 Luobo river, Luobohe 罗泊河 subdialect of Chuanqiandian dialect, Hmyo

Gaozhai 高寨 , Guizhou Taguchi 2008

5 Pu Nu, Bunu 布努 dialect of Bunu Qibainong 七百弄 , Guangxi Meng 2001

6 Nao Klao, Baonao 包瑙 dialect of Bunu Lihu 里湖 , Guangxi Meng 2001

7 Pa Hng, Baheng 巴哼 Wenjie 文界 , Guangxi Mao and Li 1997

8 Kiong Nai, Jiongnai 炯奈 Longhua 龙华 , Guangxi Mao and Li 2005

9 Ho Ne, She 畬 Duozhu 多祝 , Guangdong Mao and Meng 1986

10 Mien, Guangdian 广滇 vernacular of Mian dialect Jiangdi 江底 , Guangxi Mao 2004

11 Mien, Xiangnan 湘南 vernacular of Mian dialect Miaoziyuan 庙子源 , Hunan Mao 2004

12 Changping 长坪 vernacular of Mian dialect Changping 长坪 , Guangxi Mao 2004

13 Luoxiang 罗香 vernacular of Mian dialect Luoxiang 罗香 , Guangxi Mao 2004

14 Biao Min, Dongshan 东山 vernacular of Biao Min dialect Dongshan 东山 , Guangxi Mao 2004

15 Chao Kong Meng, Shikou 石口 vernacular of, Biao Min dialect

Shikou 石口 , Guangxi Mao 2004

16 Kim Mun, Diangui 滇桂 vernacular of Jinmen dianlect Liangzi 梁子 , Guangdong Mao 2004

17 Dzao Min, Zaomin 藻敏 dialect Daping 大坪 , Guangdong Mao 2004

18 Pana, Bana 巴那 Changanying 长安营 , Hunan

Chen (2001), Taguchi 2001

Target lects (languages/dialects)

(1) The lect is mentioned in the language list of Wang and Mao (1995).

(2) Sufficient lexical data of the lect are available.

(3) Pana

18 lects of the Hmong-Mien languages

(10 lects of the Hmongic languages)

Data analysis

• Meaning list used: Culturally Appropriate Lexicostatistical Model for South East Asia (CALMSEA) wordlist (Matisoff 1978). 210 meaning items.

• Cognacy decision: mostly based on Ratliff (2010) Hmong-Mien language history.

• Loanword discrimination: based on Ratliff (2010) Hmong-Mien language history.

• 493 characters for 18 lects.

Data file (part)

The conditions for calculation

• The prior probability of each tree is the same.• The rate of change is the same for all the

characters. • The number of generations to be calculated is 2

million.• Sampling rate is 100 generation.• The number of chains is four.

4. Calculation result

• The standard deviation of splits was 0.003. • The value of the convergence diagnostic

(potential scale reduction factor) was 1.000. • From the credible set of trees, 1218 trees were

sampled. The 90% credible set had 160 trees; the 95% credible set had 316 trees, and the 99% credible set had 918 trees.

Figure 5. Consensus tree of Hmong-Mien


(part)

5. Phylogeny of the Hmongic languages (1)

The consensus tree constructed by the algorithm supports the findings of previous scholars:

• The closest relations between Hmong ( 川黔滇 ) and Hmyo ( 落泊河 ) on the one hand (1.00), and Pu Nu ( 布努 ) and Nau Klau ( 瑙格劳 ) on the other hand (1.00)

<Strecker 1987, Wang and Mao 1995>.

• The relatively close relationship among these four languages (0.99) <Strecker 1987>

• The close relation between Kiong Nai ( 炯奈 ) and Ho Ne ( 畬 )(0.97) <Mao and Li 2002>.








(part)








(part)


The consensus tree also reveals some new findings.

• The positions of Qo Xiong ( 湘西 , Northern) and Pa Hng ( 巴哼 ). The consensus tree suggests that these two languages are positioned higher in the tree than other languages.

• Concerning the position of Pa Hng, Benedict (1987), Strecker (1987) and Niederer (2004) have argued that Pa Hng may have been the first language to split off from the Hmongic branch.


(part)


The consensus tree also reveals some new findings.

• The positions of Qo Xiong ( 湘西 , Northen) and Pa Hng ( 巴哼 ). The consensus tree suggests that these two languages are positioned higher in the tree than other languages.

• Concerning the position of Pa Hng, Benedict (1987), Strecker (1987) and Niederer (2004) have argued that Pa Hng may have been the first language to split off from the Hmongic branch.

Niederer 2004: 137-138

Bran 糠 Thunder 雷 Thread 线

黔东 E fha5 ho1 fh3

湘西 N sa5 so1 sa3

川黔滇 W sua5 so1 so3

Ho Ne 畲 fui5 xu1 f3

Pa Hng 巴哼 me5 mpo1 mpo3

Iu Mien 勉 bje7 bwo4 -

Proto-HM *mph- *mp- *mp-


• Concerning the position of Qo Xiong ( 湘西 , Northern), Ratliff (2010) made an important finding that Qo Xiong preserves some phonological distinctions that have been lost in other Hmongic languages.

Proto-HmM Hmongic

Qo Xiong

4

*at >

*a ei, i

*a >

*a ɑ

13

tone7 (< -p, -t, -k)

>

*ow u

tones1,3,4,5,6 >

*ow ə


(part)

Conclusions• Pa Hng ( 巴哼 ) and Qo Xiong ( 湘西 , N) are the first

languages to separate from the branch.

• The other languages are divided into three main groups: the Western Hmongic group including Hmong, Hmyo, and two Pu Nu languages; the Ho Ne group including Ho Ne, Kiong Nai, and Pana; and Hmu (Qiandong). Thus, it is clear that the previous classification “three major dialects of Miao” needs a revision.

• Ho Ne ( 畬 ) should not be treated as comprising an independent branch outside Hmongic. Rather, we recognize a Ho Ne group ( 畬 ) inside Hmongic.

A Cladogram of Hmongic

Thank you

谢谢

Figure 6. Geographical distribution of Hmongic

subgroups

Table 2. A classification of the Hmongic

languagesBranch Sub-Branch Language

Hmongic 苗语支

Pahngic 巴哼语群 Pa Hng 巴哼语Northern Hmongic 北部苗语群 Qo Xiong 湘西苗语Central Hmongic 中部苗语群 Hmu 黔东苗语Western Hmongic 西部苗语群 Hmong 川黔滇苗语

Hmyo 罗泊河苗语

Pu Nu 布努语

Nao Klao 瑙格劳语Eastern Hmongic 东部苗语群 , 畬语群 Kiong Nai 炯奈语 Ho Ne 畬语

Pana 巴那语

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On the Phylogeny of the Hmong-Mien languages