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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 November 2010
The Tibeto-Burman languages, over one hundred of which have been recorded' make up the linguistic ‘center of gravity’ of the Sino-Tibetan stock. This family, with a diversification roughly comparable with that of Indo-European, presents numerous problems of classification. Several large divisions or ‘nuclei’ can be distinguished, but a number of smaller units resist all efforts at taxonomic reduction. Some of these residual languages have been poorly or fragmentarily recorded, and it is not unlikely that fuller data in the future will enable us to fit many of them into a broader scheme of classification. For the present, however, the writer prefers simply to list them as distinct units, with a note as to their most probable affiliations.
The seven primary divisions or nuclei of Tibeto-Burman are listed below.
Immediate genetic relationship must be inferred for the several languages within each nucleus, and somewhat less immediate relationship for other languages mentioned in connection therewith.
Tibetan-Kanauri (Bodish-Himalayish); perhaps also Dzorgai, Lepcha, and Magari.
Bahing-Vayu (Kiranti); perhaps also Newari.
Abor-Miri-Dafla (Mirish); perhaps also Aka, Digaro, Miju, and Dhimal.
Kachin; perhaps also Kadu-Andro-Sengmai (Luish) and Taman.
Burmese-Lolo (Burmish); perhaps also Nung.
Bodo-Garo (Barish); perhaps also Konyak and Chairel.
Kuki-Naga (Kukish); perhaps also Mikir, Meithei, and Mru.
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