Qiangic languages

The Qiang - Gyalrong - languages ​​form a subgroup of the Tibeto-Burman languages ​​, a primary branch of the Sino Tibetan. The twelve languages ​​are spoken by 500,000 people mainly in Southern China in Sichuan Province. Qiang Gyalrong consists of the two branches of Xixia -Qiang and Gyalrong, form the generally accepted genetic units. The most significant individual languages ​​Qiang with 130,000 speakers and Gyarong (also Gyalrong, rGyalrong or Jiarong ) with 140,000 speakers, both of which are spoken in north-central Sichuan. For Xixia Qiang branch and the Xixia or Tangut is expected, the extinct language of the Tangut Empire (11th - 13th century).

Classification and sub-units

  • Sino-Tibetan Tibetobirmanisch Qiang Gyalrong Xixia Qiang languages ​​( 250 thousand speakers)
  • Gyalrong languages ​​( 230 thousand speakers)
Bernard Comrie
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