Languages and peoples
editEthnic groups
editSino-Tibetan is not an ethnic group, but rather a linguistic family. Therefore it makes little sense to speak of "Sino-Tibetan people" as a group apart from the languages they speak.
The most numerous of the Sino-Tibetan–speaking peoples are the Han Chinese numbering 1.3 billion people. The Hui (10 million) also speak Chinese, but are ethnically distinct. Numerous Tibeto-Burman peoples are the Burmese (42 million), Yi (Lolo) (7 million), Tibetans (6 million), Karen (5 million), Bhutanese (1.5 million), Manipuris (1.5 million), Naga (1.2 million), Tamang (1.1 million), Chin (1.1 million), Newar (1 million), Bodo (1 million), Kachin (1 million). The Hui people live predominantly in the Ningxia autonomous region of China. The Burmese and Bhutanese peoples mostly live in Myanmar (Burma) and Bhutan. Rakhine, Kachin, Karen, Red Karen, and Chin peoples live in Rakhine, Kachin, Kayin, Kayah, and Chin states of Myanmar. Tibetans live in the Tibet autonomous region, Qinghai, Western Sichuan, Gansu and Northern Yunnan provinces in China and in Ladakh in the Kashmir region of Pakistan and India, while Manipuris, Mizo, Naga, Tripuri, Idu Mishmis, and Garo live in Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Meghalaya states of India. Bodo and Karbi live in Assam (India), while Adi, Nishi, Apa Tani and Galo, calling themselves sons and descendants of Abotani, live in Arunachal Pradesh (India).
Chinese language (Han Chinese people):
- Old Chinese (extinct)
- Min (people)
- Min Nan or Southern Min
- Min Dong or Eastern Min
- Min Bei or Northern Min
- Min Zhong or Central Min
- Puxian Min or Hinghua (Xinghua) (Putian people)
- Middle Chinese (extinct)
- Mandarin
- Hui people (no specific language)
- Standard Mandarin
- Jin (often considered a Mandarin dialect)
- Cantonese (people)
- Xiang (Hunanese people)
- Hakka or Kejia (people)
- Gan or Jiangxi (people)
- Wu (people)
- Mandarin
- Min (people)
- Tanka people (no specific language)
- Ngái people (no specific language)
- Fuzhou Tanka or Kuóh-dà̤
Other:
- Burmish languages
- Loloish languages
- Northern Loloish languages
- Central Loloish languages
- Southern Loloish languages
- Southeastern Loloish languages
- Naxi (Nakhi people)
Bodish languages (possibly Tibeto-Kanauri languages)
edit- Tibetan languages (people)
- Classical Tibetan
- Central Tibetan languages
- Standard Tibetan
- South Central Tibetan languages
- Dzongkha or Bhutanese (Ngalop people)
- Sherpa (people)
- Sikkimese Tibetan (Bhutia people)
- Groma (people)
- Khams Tibetan (people)
- Amdo Tibetan (people)
- Balti (people)
- Ladakhi (people)
- East Bodish languages (Monpa people)
- Tshangla (people)
- South Bodish languages
- Central Bodish languages
West Himalayish languages or Almora, Kanauric (possibly Tibeto-Kanauri languages)=
edit- Pattani (Patni) or Manchad (Manchati), Chamba (Chamba Lahuli, Lahuli), Swangla, Changsapa Boli (people)
- Gahri or Bunan (people)
- Kinnauri (Kanauri) (people)
- Rangas (Rangkas) (extinct) (people)
- Zhangzhung (extinct) (people)
- Tinan (people)
- Kanashi (people)
- Darma (people)
- Byangsi (people)
Tamangic languages (possibly Tibeto-Kanauri languages)=
edit- Tamang (two divergent varieties) (people)
- Gurung (three varieties with low mutual intelligibility) (people)
- Thakali (including the Seke dialect) (people)
- Manang(ba) or Nyishang(ba) (people)
- Gyasumdo (people)
- Nar Phu (Narpa) (people)
- Chantyal (people)
- Kaike (people)
Often included:
Tani languages or Miric
edit- Adi languages (people)
- Nishi languages (Nyishi) (people)
- Apatani (Apa Tani, Tanii) (people)
- Milang (people)
- Gallong languages
- Sgaw-Bghai languages
- Bghai languages
- Brek (people)
- Kayah languages (Red Karen people or Karenni)
- Sgaw languages
- Pwo Karen languages (people)
- Pao (Pa-Oh, Pa-O, Pa'o) or Taungthu, Black Karen (people)
- Limbu or Yakthung (people)
- Eastern Kiranti languages
- Central Kiranti languages
- Western Kiranti languages
- Midwestern Kiranti languages
- Chaurasiya Kiranti languages
- Upper Dudhkosi River Kiranti languages
- Northwestern (Sunwari) Kiranti languages
Qiangic languages (Kiangic) or Dzorgai
edit- Northern Qiang (Qiang people)
- Southern Qiang (Qiang people)
- Pumi (people)
- Tangut (extinct) (people)
- Ersu (Erhsu, Tosu, Duoxu) (people)
- Shixing (people)
- Namuzi (people)
- Guixiong (2-3 varieties with low intelligibility) (people)
- Zhaba (people)
- Queyu (people)
Possibly included:
Also often considered part of the Qiangic languages:
- Rgyalrongic languages (Jiarongic)
- Mizo-Kuki-Chin proper
- Central
- Northern
- Falam (Hallam, incl. Laizo, Zahao) (people)
- Anal (people)
- Hrangkhol (people)
- Zo (Zou, Zome) (people)
- Aimol (people)
- Biete (Bete) (people)
- Paite (people)
- Siyin (people)
- Tedim (Tiddim) (people)
- Thado (people)
- Chiru (people)
- Gangte (people)
- Kom (people)
- Lamkang (people)
- Chothe (Naga) (people)
- Kharam (Naga) (people)
- Milhiem (people)
- Monsang (Naga) (people)
- Moyon (Naga) (people)
- Purum (Naga) (people)
- Tarao (Naga) (people)
- Purum (people)
- Ralte (people)
- Ranglong (people)
- Sakachep (people)
- Simte (people)
- Vaiphei (people)
- Yos (people)
- Southern
Possibly included:
- Karbi languages or Mikir
NOTE: Many Naga languages are listed above in the Kuki-Chin languages.
- Angami languages
- Pochuri languages
- Chungli Ao (people)
- Mongsen Ao (people)
- Sangtam (Thukumi) (people)
- Yimchungrü (Yachumi) (people)
- Lotha (Lhota) (people)
- Nocte (people)
- Konyak (people)
- Phom (people)
- Chang Naga (people)
- Khiamniungan (people)
- Tangsa (Tase) (people)
- Tutsa (people)
- Wancho (people)
- Zeme cluster (close enough to sometimes be considered dialects of a single Zeliang language) (people)
- Mzieme (people)
- Puiron (people)
- Khoirao (people)
- Maram (people)
- Tangkhul languages or Luhupa (people)
- Digaro languages or Northern Mishmi
- Idu Mishmi or Yidu Lhoba (people)
- Taraon, Digaro or Darang (people)
- Midzu languages or Southern Mishmi
- Kaman or Miju Mishmi (people)
- Zakhring or Zaiwa, Meyor (not Zaiwa aka Atsi) (people)
"Para-Kiranti languages" (possibly part of the Mahakiranti languages)
editMiscellaneous small groupings
edit- Jinghpo or Kachin (Jingpo people)
- Sak languages or Luish
- Kho-Bwa languages or Bugunish
- Hruso or Aka (Angka) (people)
- Dhammai (Damai) or Sajolang, Miji (people)
- Levai or Bangru (Bongro) (people)
Isolates or unclassified
edit- Lhokpu (Lhobikha) or Taba-Damey-Bikha (Lhop people)
- Lhoba people (not a single ethnic group)