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The Kam–Tai languages, also called Dong–Tai (Chinese: 侗台语支) or Zhuang–Dong (Chinese: 壮侗语族) in China, are a proposed primary branch of the Kra–Dai language family. However, since the 2000s in China, the names Dong–Tai (Chinese: 侗台语支) and Zhuang–Dong (Chinese: 壮侗语族) have been used to refer to the entire Kra–Dai language family, including the Kra languages, due to the extensive documentation and comparative work done on Kra languages in China starting from the 2000s.

Definitions

The term Kam–Tai always includes at least both Tai and Kam–Sui by definition, and can refer to:

1. The entire Kra–Dai language family (as used by Chinese-speaking scholars)
2. Most Kra–Dai branches, but typically excluding Kra and Hlai (in most Western classifications, and also the definition used in this article)
3. A core Kra–Dai group that includes all Kra–Dai languages except for Biao and Lakkia (Norquest 2021)

History of classification

In Western scholarship, a Kam–Tai group consisting of Kam–Sui and Tai is accepted by Edmondson & Solnit (1988). Hansell (1988) considers Be to be a sister of the Tai branch based on shared vocabulary, and proposes a Be–Tai grouping within Kam–Tai. This classification is also followed by Norquest (2015).

However, Ostapirat (2005) and various other linguists do not make use of the Kam–Tai grouping.

Dispersal

Liang & Zhang (1996:18) estimate that the Kam-Sui, Tai, and Hlai branches had already formed by about 5,000 years B.P.

References

1. Norquest, Peter (2021). "Classification of (Tai-)Kadai/Kra-Dai languages". The Languages and Linguistics of Mainland Southeast Asia. De Gruyter. pp. 225–246. doi:10.1515/9783110558142-013. ISBN 9783110558142. S2CID 238672319.
2. Edmondson, Jerold A. and David B. Solnit, editors. 1988. Comparative Kadai: Linguistic studies beyond Tai. Summer Institute of Linguistics and the University of Texas at Arlington Publications in Linguistics, 86. Dallas: Summer Institute of Linguistics and the University of Texas at Arlington. vii, 374 p.
3. Edmondson, Jerold A. and David B. Solnit, editors. 1997. Comparative Kadai: the Tai branch. Summer Institute of Linguistics and the University of Texas at Arlington Publications in Linguistics, 124. Dallas: Summer Institute of Linguistics and the University of Texas at Arlington. vi, 382 p.
4. Hansell, Mark. 1988. The Relation of Be to Tai: Evidence from Tones and Initials. In Comparative Kadai: Linguistic studies beyond Tai. Edited by Jerold A. Edmondson and David B. Solnit. Summer Institute of Linguistics and The University of Texas at Arlington Publications in Linguistics No. 86: 239–288.
5. Norquest, Peter. 2015. A Phonological Reconstruction of Proto-Hlai. Leiden: Brill.
6. Ostapirat, Weera. (2005). "Kra–Dai and Austronesian: Notes on phonological correspondences and vocabulary distribution", pp. 107–131 in Sagart, Laurent, Blench, Roger & Sanchez-Mazas, Alicia (eds.), The Peopling of East Asia: Putting Together Archaeology, Linguistics and Genetics. London/New York: Routledge-Curzon.
7. Liang Min 梁敏 & Zhang Junru 张均如. 1996. Dongtai yuzu gailun 侗台语族概论 / An introduction to the Kam–Tai languages. Beijing: China Social Sciences Academy Press 中国社会科学出版社. ISBN 9787500416814

• Edmondson, J. A., & Solnit, D. B. (eds.) (1988). Comparative Kadai: linguistic studies beyond Tai. Summer Institute of Linguistics publications in linguistics, no. 86. Arlington, TX: Summer Institute of Linguistics. ISBN 0-88312-066-6
• Liang Min 梁敏 & Zhang Junru 张均如. 1996. Dongtai yuzu gailun 侗台语族概论 / An introduction to the Kam–Tai languages. Beijing: China Social Sciences Academy Press 中国社会科学出版社. ISBN 9787500416814
• Ni Dabai 倪大白. 1990. Dongtai yu gailun 侗台语概论 / An introduction to the Kam-Tai languages. Beijing: Central Nationalities Research Institute Press 中央民族学院出版社.

• Kra–Dai languages