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Which languages belong to the Mienic branch of Hmong-Mien?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Distribution of Hmong-Mien language family in China and Southeast Asia.
Hmong-Mien languages Distribution of Hmong-Mien language family in China and Southeast Asia.

The Mienic (Yao) branch of the Hmong-Mien language family is characterized as a smaller and less diverse group compared to the Hmongic branch, though its speakers are scattered across a wide geographical area.1

The languages identified as belonging to the Mienic branch include:

Please note that while these languages are linguistically classified as Mienic, the ethnic categorization of their speakers can be complex; for instance, speakers of the Mun language on Hainan Island are sometimes classified within the Miao nationality in China for cultural reasons, despite their language being Mienic. Further research into lesser-known members of the family may lead to future refinements of this classification.1