Qiangic (Ch'iang, Kyang, Tsiang, Chinese: 羌語支, "Qiang language group"; also Rmaic, formerly known as Dzorgaic) is a group of related languages within the Sino-Tibetan language family. They are spoken mainly in Southwest China, including Sichuan and northern Yunnan. Most Qiangic languages are distributed in the prefectures of Ngawa, Garzê, Ya'an and Liangshan in Sichuan with some in Northern Yunnan as well.
Qiangic speakers are variously classified as part of the Qiang, Tibetan, Pumi, Nakhi, and Mongol ethnic groups by the People's Republic of China.
The extinct Tangut language of the Western Xia is considered to be Qiangic by some linguists, including Matisoff (2004). The undeciphered Nam language of China may possibly be related to Qiangic.
Lamo, Larong and Drag-yab, or the Chamdo languages, a group of three closely related Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in Chamdo, Eastern Tibet, may or may not be Qiangic.
Classification
Sun (1983) Sun Hongkai (1983) proposes two branches, northern and southern: Northern: Northern Qiang (Máwō), Pumi (Prinmi), Muya (Minyag), Tangut (extinct; attested 1036–1502) Southern: Southern Qiang (Táopíng).
Sun groups other, poorly described Qiangic languages as: Ersu (Tosu), Shixing, Namuzi (Namuyi) Guiqiong (2–3 varieties with low intelligibility) Zhaba, Queyu.
Matisoff (2004) Matisoff (2004) states that Jiarongic is an additional branch: Jiarongic: Gyarung, Lavrung, Horpa (Ergong)
Matisoff (2004) describes Proto-Tibeto-Burman *-a > -i as a typical sound change in many Qiangic languages, and refers to this vowel heightening as "brightening." Yu (2012) also notes that "brightening" is a defining innovation in Proto-Ersuic, the reconstructed ancestor of the Ersuic languages.
Thurgood and La Polla (2003) Thurgood and La Polla (2003) state that the inclusion of Qiang, Prinmi, and Muya is well supported, but that they do not follow Sun's argument for the inclusion of Tangut. Matisoff (2004), however, claims Tangut demonstrates a clear relationship. The unclassified language Baima may also be Qiangic or may retain a Qiangic substratum after speakers shifted to Tibetan.
Some other lesser-known, unclassified Qiangic peoples and languages include the following: Bolozi 玻璃哦子/博罗子: 2,000 people; in Xiao Heshui Village 小河水村, west of Songpan; also as far south as Wenchuan Township 汶川乡. Sun Hongkai (2013:80–82) identifies Bolozi 博罗子 as a Northern Qiang variety, belonging to the Cimulin 茨木林 dialect. Ming 命: 10,000 people; mixed Chinese in Mao County and Wenchuan County, Sichuan Xiangcheng 乡城: 10,000 people in and around Xiangcheng Township 乡城, Garzê Prefecture
Sun (2001) Sun Hongkai (2001) groups the Qiangic languages are follows. Qiangic Northern Tangut 西夏 Qiang Qiang 羌 (Northern and Southern) Prinmi 普米 Minyak 木雅 rGyalrongic rGyalrong 嘉绒 Ergong 尔龚 Lavrung 拉乌戎 Southern Ersu 尔苏 Guiqiong 贵琼 Shixing 史兴 Namuyi 纳木依 Choyo 却隅 nDrapa 扎巴
Jacques & Michaud (2011) Guillaume Jacques & Alexis Michaud (2011) argue for a Na–Qiangic branch which itself forms a Burmo-Qiangic branch together with Lolo–Burmese. Na–Qiangic comprises three primary branches, which are Ersuish (or Ersuic), Naic (or Naxish), and [core] Qiangic. Similarly, David Bradley (2008) also proposed an Eastern Tibeto-Burman branch that includes Burmic ( Lolo-Burmese) and Qiangic. The position of Guiqiong is not addressed.
Na–Qiangic
Ersuish
Ersu
Lizu
Tosu
Naic
Namuyi
Shixing
Naish
Naxi
Na (Mosuo) Laze Qiangic Queyu Zhaba (?) Tangut Pumi Northern Pumi Southern Pumi Muya Northern Muya Southern Muya Qiang Northern Qiang Southern Qiang rGyalrongic rGyalrongish Situ Japhug Tshobdun Zbu Lavrung Thugsrjechenmo Njorogs Horpa Rtau Stodsde
Chirkova (2012) However, Chirkova (2012) casts doubt on the validity of Qiangic as a coherent branch, instead considering Qiangic to be a diffusion area. She considers the following four languages to be part of four separate Tibeto-Burman branches:
Lizu (Ersu group) Shixing ("Naic") Namuzi ("Naic") Pumi
Both Shixing and Namuzi are both classified as Naic (Naxi) by Jacques & Michaud (2011), but Naic would not be a valid genetic unit in Chirkova's classification scheme since Shixing and Namuzi are considered by Chirkova to not be part of a single branch.