Palaungic
Palaungic is a branch of the Austroasiatic language family, within the larger Mon–Khmer group. It comprises several related languages spoken primarily in Myanmar (Burma) and neighboring areas of southern China, with smaller communities in Laos and Thailand. The name reflects the people who traditionally speak these languages, among whom communities and languages have experienced substantial language shift and endangerment.
Traditionally, Palaungic is divided into two main subgroups: Palaungic proper and Waic (sometimes referred to as
Geographically, Palaungic languages are concentrated in the northern and eastern parts of Myanmar, particularly in regions
Linguistically, Palaungic languages display a range of phonological and grammatical features common to Austroasiatic languages, with
Current scholarship continues to refine the internal structure and historical relationships within Palaungic, reflecting ongoing efforts