The West Hmongic languages, also known as Chuanqiandian Miao (川黔滇苗:

Sichuan Sichuan (; zh, c=, labels=no, ; zh, p=Sìchuān; alternatively romanized as Szechuan or Szechwan; formerly also referred to as "West China" or "Western China" by Protestant missions) is a province in Southwest China occupying most of the ...

–

Guizhou Guizhou (; formerly Kweichow) is a landlocked province in the southwest region of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Guiyang, in the center of the province. Guizhou borders the autonomous region of Guangxi to the ...

–

Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked province in the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the C ...

Miao) and Western Miao, is the major branch of the Hmongic languages of China and Southeast Asia. The name ''Chuanqiandian'' is used both for West Hmongic as a whole and for one of its branches, the ''Chuanqiandian cluster'' Hmong.

Writing

The Miao languages were traditionally written with various adaptations of

Chinese characters Chinese characters () are logograms developed for the writing of Chinese. In addition, they have been adapted to write other East Asian languages, and remain a key component of the Japanese writing system where they are known as ''kanji ...

. Around 1905, Samuel Pollard introduced a Romanized script, the

Pollard script The Pollard script, also known as Pollard Miao (Chinese: 柏格理苗文 Bó Gélǐ Miao-wen) or Miao, is an abugida loosely based on the Latin alphabet and invented by Methodist missionary Sam Pollard. Pollard invented the script for use with A ...

, for the

A-Hmao language The A-Hmao language, also known as Large Flowery Miao () or Northeast Yunnan Miao (), is a Hmongic language spoken in China. It is the language the Pollard script was designed for, and displays extensive tone sandhi. There is a high degree of l ...

, and this came to be used for Hmong Daw (

Chuanqiandian Hmong / Mong (; RPA: ''Hmoob,'' ; Nyiakeng Puachue: ; Pahawh: , ) is a dialect continuum of the West Hmongic branch of the Hmongic languages spoken by the Hmong people of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hainan, northern Vietnam, Thailand, ...

) as well. In the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

, the Romanized Popular Alphabet is often used for White and Green Hmong (also Chuanqiandian). In China, pinyin-based Latin alphabets have been devised for Chuanqiandian (variety of Dananshan 大南山, Yanzikou 燕子口镇, Bijie) and A-Hmao. Wu and Yang (2010) report attempts at writing Mashan in 1985 and an improvement by them; they recommend that standards should be developed for each of the six other primary varieties of West Hmongic.

Autonyms

Autonyms include (''Miaoyu Jianzhi'' 苗语简志 1985): *'' '' in

Bijie Prefecture Bijie () is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Guizhou Province, China, bordering Sichuan to the north and Yunnan to the west. The Daotianhe Reservoir, located to the north of the town was commissioned in 1965 with a rated annual capacity ...

and

Wenshan Prefecture Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture is an autonomous prefecture in southeastern Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China and the easternmost prefecture-level division of the province. It borders Baise, Guangxi to the east, Vietnam's ...

*'' '' in

Huishui County Huishui () is a county of south-central Guizhou province, China. It is under the administration of the Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. 61% of its 476,900 population are minorities, including Bouyei, Miao, Hui, Zhuang, Sui, Bai, a ...

*'' '' in

Ziyun County Ziyun Miao and Buyei Autonomous County (; Bouyei: ) is a county in the southwest of Guizhou province, China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Anshun Anshun () is a prefecture-level city located in southwestern ...

*'' '' in

Fuquan County Fuquan () is a county-level city in east-central Guizhou province of the People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a populat ...

*'' '' in the prefectures of Weining,

Zhaotong Zhaotong () is a prefecture-level city located in the northeast corner of Yunnan province, China, bordering the provinces of Guizhou to the south and southeast and Sichuan to the northeast, north, and west. History Zhaotong has historic and ...

, and Chuxiong

Classification

West Hmongic is the most diverse branch of the Hmong (Miao) language family. There are nine primary branches in Chinese sources, though the unity of these are not accepted in all Western sources. Items marked "§" have been split into individual languages (and not kept together) by either Matisoff or Strecker; all of these are branches of Miao listed with subbranches in Chinese sources. The other three (A-Hmao, A-Hmyo, Gejia) are not so divided in either Chinese or Western sources. *Chuanqiandian cluster **§

Hmong Hmong may refer to: * Hmong people, an ethnic group living mainly in Southwest China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand * Hmong cuisine * Hmong customs and culture ** Hmong music ** Hmong textile art * Hmong language, a continuum of closely related to ...

** Gha-Mu (Small Flowery Miao) **

Xixiu Miao Xixiu Miao () is a small Miao language of China that is closely related to Hmong: Hmong, Small Flowery Miao, and Xixiu are listed as the three local dialects of the Chuanqiandian Cluster of the West Hmongic languages. There are only 300 speaker ...

** Gejia (Chong'an River Miao) *§ Bu-Nao * A-Hmao (Big Flowery Miao; Northeast Yunnan Miao) * A-Hmyo (Luobohe Miao) *§

Guiyang Miao Guiyang Miao, also known as Guiyang Hmong, is a Miao language of China. It is named after Guiyang County, Guizhou, though not all varieties are spoken there. The endonym is ''Hmong'', a name it shares with the Hmong language. Classification Gui ...

*§ Huishui Miao *§

Mashan Miao Mang, or Mashan Miao also known as Mashan Hmong (麻山 ''máshān''), is a Miao language of China, spoken primarily in Ziyun Miao and Buyei Autonomous County, southwestern Guizhou province, southwest China. The endonym is ''Mang'', similar to o ...

(Mang, Hmang) *§

Pingtang Miao Pingtang Miao, named after Pingtang County (平塘 ''píngtáng'') in which it is spoken, is a group of Miao language varieties of China. Classification The four varieties of Pingtang were listed as unclassified branches of Chuanqiandian Miao ( ...

The three divisions of the Chuanqiandian cluster are only as divergent as the divisions of the other branches marked "§", but are listed separately due to the internal complexity of Hmong. The various varieties of Pingtang, new branches of Guiyang and Mashan, and Matisoff's Raojia and Pa Na are not listed in ''Ethnologue'' 16, and have no ISO codes. Matisoff (2006) gives very different names, and it's not clear how these correspond to the branches listed here.

Ratliff (2010)

Ratliff (2010)Ratliff, Martha. 2010. ''Hmong–Mien language history''. Canberra, Australia: Pacific Linguistics. includes three languages specifically: *

(Chuanqiandian in the narrow sense) * A-Hmao (Big Flowery Miao) * Bunu The last contradicts Matisoff (2001), who had posited a Bunu branch of Hmongic with Bu-Nao in it, but recapitulates Strecker (1987). The other Western varieties were not addressed, though some were included in her reconstruction of Proto-Hmong–Mien.

Wang (1985)

Wang Fushi (1985) groups the Western Miao languages into eight primary divisions. Datapoint locations of representative dialects are from Li Yunbing (2000:237), all of which are located in

province, China. * Chuanqiandian Miao **Lect 1: 1,100,000 speakers in the following counties. ''Representative dialect'': Dananshan 大南山寨, Xiaoshao township 小哨苗族乡, Bijie city ***''

'': Gulin, Xuyong, Xingyong, Gongxian, Junlian, Gaoxian, Changning, Muli, Yanbian, etc. ***''

'': Jinsha, Chishui, Renhuai, Zunyi, Xifeng, Bijie, Nayong, Qianxi, Dafang, Zhijin, Puding, Pu'an, Xingyi, Anlong, Wangmo, Zhenning, Anshun Prefecture, Liupanshui Prefecture, etc. The Tuhe 土河 dialect is spoken in

Xishui County, Guizhou Xishui County () is a county in the north of Guizhou province, China, bordering Sichuan province to the southwest. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Zunyi. It was the site of the 2009 Xishui sex trial. Education Yang ...

. ***''

'': Zhenxiong, Weixing, Yiliang, Shizong, Luoping, Wenshan Prefecture, Mengzi, Pingbian, Kaiyuan, Jinping, Gejiu, Mile, Luxi, Lunan (Shilin), Yuanyang, Baoshan, Changning, Lijiang, Huaping, Fengqin, Heqin, Weishan, Yongping, Yangbi, Nanjian, Xiangyun, Zhongdian, Binchuan, Huaning, Chengjiang, Yiliang, Zhenkang, Zhenyuan, Mengla, etc. ***'' Guangxi'': Longlin, Xilin, Napo, etc. **Lect 2: 70,000+ speakers in the counties of Nayong,

Hezhang Hezhang () is a county in the northwest of Guizhou province, China, bordering Yunnan to the north. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Bijie. Ethnic groups The ''Hezhang County Gazetteer'' (2001:105-108) lists the follow ...

, and Shuicheng. ''Representative dialect'': Xingfa township 兴发乡,

Hezhang County Hezhang () is a county in the northwest of Guizhou province, China, bordering Yunnan to the north. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Bijie. Ethnic groups The ''Hezhang County Gazetteer'' (2001:105-108) lists the follow ...

**Lect 3. ''Representative dialect'': Zhuchang township 猪场乡, Zhijin County * Northeast Yunnan Miao: 250,000 speakers in the counties of Yiliang of Zhaotong, Daguan, Zhaotong, Yongshan, Qiaojia, Wudin, Lufeng, Luquan, Chuxiong, Dayao, Yuanmou, Kunming, Anning, Fumin, Yiliang of Kunming, Yimen, Songming, Qujing, Dongchuan, Huize, Xundian, Xuanwei, Zhanyi, Malong, Weining, Hezhang, Zhijin, Puding, Wangmo, Shuicheng, etc. ''Representative dialect'': Shimenkan 石门坎寨, Zhongshui district 中水区,

Weining County Weining Yi Hui and Miao Autonomous County (; Xiao'erjing: ) is a county of Guizhou, China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city A prefecture-level city () or prefectural city is an administrative division of the People ...

**Northern: 80,000 speakers in Guiyang suburbs; Linka 林卡,

Pingba Pingba District () is a district of the city of Anshun, Guizhou Guizhou (; Postal romanization, formerly Kweichow) is a landlocked Provinces of China, province in the Southwest China, southwest region of the China, People's Republic of China. ...

; Chongxin 重新 and Shiping 石平 of Qianxi; Jinsha (in Musha 木沙, Bijia 笔架, Zongping 宗平, Dayuan 大员, Xinxi 新西, Anmin 安民, and Taoyuan 桃园); parts of the counties of Kaiyang, Xifeng,

Xiuwen Xiuwen County () is a county in central Guizhou province, China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Guiyang Guiyang (; ; Mandarin pronunciation: ), historically rendered as Kweiyang, is the capital of Guizhou provin ...

, and Guiding. ''Representative dialect'': Baituo 摆托寨, Qingyan township 青岩乡, Huaxi District 花溪区, Guiyang city **Southwestern: 65,000 speakers in

(in Machang 马场, Malu 马路, Gayun 嘎云, Baiyun 白云, Huolong 活龙, and Changhe 昌河), Qingzhen (in Houliu 后六 and Lusheng 芦笙),

Anshun Anshun () is a prefecture-level city located in southwestern Guizhou province, southwest China, near the Huangguoshu Waterfall, the tallest in China. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 2,297,339. The city proper had a population o ...

(in Zhangjiatun 张家屯, Pingzhai 平寨, Jiuzhou 旧州, Baolong 鲍隆, and Liugong 刘宫), Changshun (in Guangshun 广顺), Guiyang suburbs. ''Representative dialect'': Kaisa village 凯洒村, Machang township 马场乡,

Pingba County Pingba District () is a district of the city of Anshun, Guizhou Guizhou (; Postal romanization, formerly Kweichow) is a landlocked Provinces of China, province in the Southwest China, southwest region of the China, People's Republic of China. ...

**Southern: 25,000 speakers in

and parts of

Zhenning Zhenning Buyei and Miao Autonomous County (; usually referred to as "Zhenning County", commonly abbreviated as Zhenning (); Buyei: Zenqninf Buxqyaix Buxyeeuz Ziqziqxianq) is an autonomous county under the administration of the prefecture-level ci ...

. ''Representative dialect'': Wangjiashan 汪家山, Huayan township 华严乡,

city **Northwestern: 7,000 speakers in Tieshi 铁石苗族彝族乡, Qianxi (in Molaoba 磨老坝 and Tiaonian 跳年); Tiekui 铁盔乡, Qianxi (in Xinchang 新场, Xinzhai 新寨, Bazi 坝子); others parts of Qianxi (in Baihua 百花, Malu 马路, Lanhua 兰花, Wuli 五里, Hongshui 洪水, Pingzhai 平寨, Guanzhai 关寨, Gantang 甘塘, Guiqing 桂箐, Wuzhen 五镇, Tangxin 塘新, Dasan 大三, and Liming 黎明);

(in Datun 大屯, Leping 乐平 and Gaofeng 高峰); Weicheng 卫城 of Qingzhen; Ertang 二塘 of

Liuzhi Liuzhi Special District () is a district of Guizhou, China. It was known as Langdai Country before 1960. The county is under the administration of Liupanshui Liupanshui () is a city in western Guizhou province, People's Republic of China. The na ...

; Shechang 蛇场 of

Longlin Longlin Various Nationalities (Gezu) Autonomous County () is an autonomous county, under the jurisdiction of the prefecture-level city of Baise, in the west of Guangxi, China, bordering Guizhou Province to the north. As of 2019, the county's pop ...

. ''Representative dialect'': Tieshi township 铁石苗族彝族乡, Qianxi County **Central: 5,000 speakers in Jiepai 界牌, Chengguan 城关镇,

Ziyun Ziyun Miao and Buyei Autonomous County (; Bouyei: ) is a county in the southwest of Guizhou province, China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city A prefecture-level city () or prefectural city is an administrative div ...

; Tuanpo 团坡, Songshan 松山镇,

; Baiyun 白云,

(in Malong 骂龙 and Maga 骂嘎); Baiyan 白岩 (in Tianba 田坝, Banbi 板比, Mokai 磨开, Mozhu 磨竺); Qinghai 青海乡 (Lanba 滥坝, Fengxianglin 枫香林, Suancaopo 酸草坡); Dazhai 大寨, Jianglang 江朗,

. ''Representative dialect'' (South-central Guiyang Miao): Hongyanzhai 红岩寨, Baiyun township 白云乡,

* Huishui Miao **Northern: 64,000 speakers in Gaopo 高坡, Guiyang; Yangchang 羊场, Huishui; Tangbao 塘堡 and Pingfa 平伐, Guiding. ''Representative dialect'': Jiading 甲定寨, Gaopo township 高坡苗族乡, Guiyang city **Western: 52,000 speakers in Yashui 雅水, Sandu 三都, Doudi 斗底, and Duansan 断杉 of Huishui; Baitang 摆塘 and Zhongguo 中果, Changshun. ''Representative dialect'': Yarong Township 鸭绒乡,

**Central: 41,000 speakers in Huishui (in Chengguan 城关 and Baijin 摆金); parts of Changshun and

. ''Representative dialect'': Baijin township 摆金乡,

**Eastern: 13,000 speakers in Xiguan 西关 of Pingtang; Gaobaibang 高摆榜 of Huishui, etc. ''Representative dialect'': Xiguan township 西关乡,

Pingtang County Pingtang County () is a county in the Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Guizhou province, China, bordering Guangxi to the south. It is a high mountain valley and is inhabited mainly by members of the Buyei and Miao ethnic minorities ...

**Central: 60,000 speakers in

(in Zongdi 宗地, Dayi 打易, Gejing 格井, Kehun 克混, Meichang 妹场, and Baihua 百花), Luodian (Fengting 逢亭 and Bianyang 边阳, etc.). ''Representative dialect'': Jiaotuo 绞坨寨, Zongdi township 宗地乡,

**Northern: 30,000 speakers in Daihua 代化 of Changshun; Bianyang 边阳 of Luodian; Dongshang 董上 of Huishui, etc. ''Representative dialect'': Baisuo township 摆梭乡,

Changshun County Changshun County () is a county of Guizhou, China. It is under the administration of the Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (; Buyei: ''Qianfnanf Buxqyaix Buxyeeuz ziqziqzouy''; Hmu: ''Qeef ...

**Western: 12,000 speakers in Houchang 猴场, Sidazhai 四大寨, etc. of

. ''Representative dialect'': Sidazhai 四大寨, Houchang Township 猴场乡,

**Southern: 9,000 speakers in Mashan 麻山, Lekuan 乐宽, etc. of

Wangmo Wangmo () is a Tibetan name. People with this name include: *Dechen Wangmo (Tibetan Buddhist) (died 2011), daughter of a Tibetan noble family *Dechen Wangmo (politician) (born ), Bhutanese politician *Dorji Wangmo (born 1955), Queen Mother of Bhutan ...

. ''Representative dialect'': Youquan village 油全村, Lekuan township 乐宽乡,

Wangmo County Wangmo County () is a county in the southwest of Guizhou province, China, bordering Guangxi to the southeast. It is under the administration of the Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. Climate Wangmo recorded of rainfall in one hour, o ...

**Southwestern: 5,000 speakers in Dalang 打狼乡, Sanglang 桑朗乡, and Lewang 乐旺乡 of

. ''Representative dialect'': Babangzhai 岜棒寨, Dalang township 打狼乡,

**Southeastern: 6,000 speakers in Moyin 模引乡 and Fengting 逢亭镇 of

. ''Representative dialect'': Babazhai 把坝寨, Moyin 模引乡,

Luobohe Miao Luobohe Miao (罗泊河 ''Luóbóhé'' Miao, Luobo River Miao, Luopohe Hmong; Xijia Miao 西家苗), also known as Hmjo or A-Hmyo, is a Miao language of China. Distribution According to Chen Qiguang (2013), there are more than 50,000 ' (Flowery ...

: 43,000 speakers in the counties of Fuquan, Guiding, Longli, Kaiyang, Kaili (in Laojunzhai 老君寨, Daxiaopaomu 大小泡木, etc.). ''Representative dialect'': Yejipo 野鸡坡寨, Ganba township 甘坝乡,

* Chong'anjiang Miao: 44,000 speakers in the following counties. ''Representative dialect'': Fengxiang 枫香寨, Chong'an township 重安乡, Huangping County ** Huangping (in Fengtang 枫塘, Chongxin 重新, Chongren 崇人) ** Kaili (in Longchang 龙场, Gouchang 狗场, Ganba 甘坝, Longshan 龙山, Longchang 隆昌, Bibo 碧波) *

**Northern: 15,000 speakers in

. ''Representative dialect'': Shanglin village 上林村, Yuanjiatong township 原甲桐乡,

***Kaluo 卡罗乡 (in Shanglin 上林, Shangjialang 上甲浪, Xiajialang 下甲浪, Lamiguan 拉米冠) ***Yazhou 牙舟镇 (in Kongzhai 孔寨, Yanzhai 岩寨, Gusong 故松, Wangsong 王宋, Kala 卡腊, Gaozhai 高寨, Danpiao 单票, Chengyoupo 承友坡) ***Gudong 谷洞乡 (Gudong 谷洞, Shuichong 水冲, Shangge 上格, Baikua 摆垮, Xiaoguang 小广, Daguang 大广, Jichang 鸡场, Kuangjiu 旷九, Kundan 坤丹, Bailiang 摆两, Wengpian 翁片, etc.) **Eastern: 5,000 speakers in Xinmin 新民乡, Wengqiao 翁桥乡, and Shangdao 上道乡 of

Dushan County Dushan County () is a county of 346,000 people (2007) in Guizhou province, China. It is under the administration of Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, in the south of the province, bordering Guangxi to the south. The county seat is the t ...

. ''Representative dialect'': Caozhai 草寨, Xinmin township 新民乡,

**Southern: 7,000 speakers in the following counties. ''Representative dialect'': Pingyan 平岩乡,

Luodian County Luodian County () is a county under the administration of Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in the south of Guizhou province, China, bordering Guangxi to the south. The climate in the area is humid subtropical, with strong monsoon inf ...

*** Luodian (in Pingyan 平岩乡) *** Pingtang (in Wengtun 翁屯, Kongqiong 孔穹, Mingtong 明通, Kongwangzhai 孔王寨, Baibiao 摆表) *** Nandan (in Lala 拉拉, Zhongbao 钟堡, Youyuan 尤元, Yuege 约各, Jiuli 九里, Youshao 油召, etc.) **Western: 3,500 speakers in Youmai 油迈 of

(in Shangyoumai 上油迈, Xiayoumai 下油迈); parts of Luodian. ''Representative dialect'': Youmai village 油迈村, Youmai township 油迈乡,

The above classification was later revised by Li Jinping & Li Tianyi (2012:285) to include 7 dialects instead of the 8 given in Wang (1985);

is excluded. *Western Miao (representative dialect: Dananshan, Yanzikou, Bijie 贵州毕节燕子口镇大南山) ** Chuanqiandian Miao (representative dialect: Damiaozhai, Jichang, Bijie 贵州毕节吉场大苗寨) ***Lect 1 ***Lect 2 **

(representative dialect: Guankou, Machang, Pingba 贵州平坝马场关口) ***Northern ***Western ***Southern ** Huishui Miao (representative dialect: Jiading, Gaopo, Huaxi, Guiyang 贵州贵阳花溪高坡甲定) ***Northern ***Western ***Central ***Eastern **

(representative dialect: Dalong, Dayun, Ziyun 贵州紫云大云大龙) ***Central ***Northern ***Western ***Southern ** Northeast Yunnan Miao (representative dialect: Shimenkan, Weining 贵州威宁石门砍) **

(representative dialect: Yejipo, Xinqiao, Fuquan 贵州福泉新桥野鸡坡) ** Chong'anjiang Miao (representative dialect: Fengxiang, Chongxing, Huangping 贵州黄平重兴枫香)

Li (2000)

Li Yunbing (2000) classified those varieties left unclassified in Wang, grouping four of them together as an eighth branch of West Hmongic, ''Pingtang''. He identified Luodian Muyin and Wangmo (using Strecker's names) as varieties of Mashan. Wang (1994) had already established Qianxi and Ziyun as varieties of Guiyang. This classification is repeated in Wu and Yang (2010): *Chuanqiandian cluster (川黔滇 ''Chuānqiándiān'') * A-Hmao (滇东北 ''Diāndōngběi'') *

(贵阳 ''Guìyáng'') * Huishui Miao (惠水 ''Huìshuǐ'') *

(麻山 ''Máshān'') * A-Hmyo (罗泊河 ''Luóbóhé'') * Gejia (重安江 ''Chóng'ānjiāng'') *

(平塘 ''Píngtáng'') The varieties analyzed by Li Yunbing (2000) are: *

**' (autonym; also called Jiucai Miao 韭菜苗), in Hongyan, Baiyun township,

紫云县白云乡红岩寨; 4,000 speakers **' (autonym) in Tieshi township, Qianxi County 黔西县铁石苗族彝族乡 *

**' (autonym) in Jiatong township,

平塘县甲桐乡 (currently Kaluo 卡罗乡); 11,000 speakers **' (autonym) in Xinmin township,

独山县新民乡; 4,000+ speakers **' (autonym; also called Red Miao 红苗) in Pingyan,

罗甸县平岩乡; 6,000 speakers **' (autonym) in Youmai,

望谟县油迈乡; 3,000 speakers *

**' (autonym; also called Cotton Miao 棉花苗; Bouyei exonym ') in Dalang,

紫云县打狼乡; 4,000 speakers **' (autonym) in Moyin,

罗甸县模引乡; 4,000+ speakers Li (2000) considers ' (autonym; Raojia) of Heba, Majiang County 麻江县河坝乡 to be a separate dialect of Hmu (East Hmongic). It has 5,000 speakers in Majiang County, and 10,000 speakers total (including in the counties of Kaili, Duyun, Sandu, Rongjiang, Nandan, etc.) Bu-Nao may not be included simply because speakers are ethnically Yao rather than Miao.

Mortensen (2004)

David Mortensen (2004) argues for the following classification of Western Hmongic based on shared tonal innovations, including

tone sandhi Tone sandhi is a phonological change occurring in tonal languages, in which the tones assigned to individual words or morphemes change based on the pronunciation of adjacent words or morphemes. It usually simplifies a bidirectional tone into a ...

. Pingtang, Luobohe, and Chong'anjiang are not addressed. ;Western Hmongic *Guiyang-Huishui ** Guiyang ***Baituo 摆托 (in Qingyan 青岩镇, Huaxi District) ***Tieshi 铁石 ***Zhongba 中坝 ** Huishui ***Jiading 甲定 *Core Western Hmongic ** Mashan ***Jiaotuo 绞坨 (in Zongdi 宗地乡,

), Shuijingping 水井坪 ***Xinzhai 新寨 **Far Western Hmongic *** A-Hmao (Diandongbei) ****Western ****Eastern ***

(Chuanqiandian)

Castro & Gu (2010): Wenshan

Castro & Gu (2010) divide the Hmong dialects of

into four subdivisions, listed from east to west. *Shuat (most divergent) *Dleub *Shib-Nzhuab *Soud-Bes-Buak The dialects given above are named after the groups they are spoken by. Some townships where they are spoken in are given as well. *''Hmongb Shuat'' (偏苗: Lopsided Miao) **Yangliujing, Guangnan county 广南县杨柳井乡 **Muyang, Funing county 富宁县木央镇 *''Hmongb Dleub'' (白苗: White Miao) **Zhulin, Guangnan county 广南县珠琳镇 **Badaoshao, Qiubei county 丘北县八道哨乡 **Muyang, Funing county 富宁木央镇 **Babu, Malipo county 麻栗坡县八布乡 *''Hmongb Shib'' (青苗: Green Miao) **Xingjie, Xichou county 西畴县兴街镇 **Zhuilijie, Wenshan county 文山县追栗街镇 *''Hmongb Nzhuab'' (绿苗, 青苗: Green Miao) **Babu, Malipo county 麻栗坡县八布乡 **Jiahanqing, Maguan county 马关县夹寒箐镇 *''Hmongb Soud'' (花苗: Flowery Miao) **Nijiao, Qiubei county 丘北县腻脚乡 **Pingyuan, Yanshan county 砚山县平远镇 *''Hmongb Bes'' (花苗: Flowery Miao) **Jiahanqing, Maguan county 马关县夹寒箐镇 **Bazhai, Maguan county 马关县八寨镇 *''Hmongb Buak'' (花苗: Flowery Miao) **Gulinqing, Maguan county 马关县古林箐乡 **Gumu, Wenshan county 文山县古木镇

Castro, Flaming, & Luo (2012): Honghe

Castro, Flaming, & Luo (2012) found that there are 4 different West Hmongic languages in Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan.Andy Castro, Royce Flaming, Luo Youliang. 2012
''A Phonological and Lexical Comparison of Western Miao Dialects in Honghe''
SIL International. *Northern Hua Miao, comprising ''Bes'', ''Soud'', ''Ndrous'', ''Buak'', and ''Dlob'' *Southern Hua Miao, comprising ''Shib'', ''Lens'', ''Nzhuab'', and ''Dlex Nchab'' *White Miao, comprising ''Dleub'' *Sinicised Miao, comprising ''Sat'' and ''Shuat'' Castro, Flaming, & Luo (2012) propose the following classification for the Western Miao dialects of southeastern Yunnan, which is based on Michael Johnson's 1998 classification of Western Miao dialects. ;Western Miao mongic*Sinicised Miao **''Sat'' (汉苗) **''Shuat'' (偏苗、汉苗) *Farwestern Miao **White Miao ***''Dleub'' (白苗) **Northern Hua Miao ***Standard Western Miao ***''Bes'' (花苗) ***''Soud'' (花苗) ***''Ndrous'' (花苗) ***Black Miao ****''Dlob'' (黑苗) ****''Buak'' (黑苗) **Southern Hua Miao ***''Shib'' (青苗) ***''Lens'' (花苗、红头苗) ***''Nzhuab'' (绿苗、花苗) ***''Dlex Nchab'' (清水苗)

Matisoff (2006)

Matisoff 2006 outlined the following. Not all languages are necessarily listed. Western Hmong * Libo Miao (= ?, maybe Bu-Nao) * Weining Miao (= A-Hmao / Large Flowery Miao?) * Guangshun Miao (Yi Miao) (= ?) * Sichuan–Guizhou–Yunnan (=

Chuanqiandian Cluster Hmong / Mong (; RPA: ''Hmoob,'' ; Nyiakeng Puachue: ; Pahawh: , ) is a dialect continuum of the West Hmongic branch of the Hmongic languages spoken by the Hmong people of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hainan, northern Vietnam, Thailand, ...

) ** Petchabun (

White Hmong Hmong / Mong (; RPA: ''Hmoob,'' ; Nyiakeng Puachue: ; Pahawh: , ) is a dialect continuum of the West Hmongic branch of the Hmongic languages spoken by the Hmong people of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hainan, northern Vietnam, Thailand, ...

) ** Green Hmong ( Blue Hmong) ** Suyong Miao (

Magpie Miao Hmong / Mong (; RPA: ''Hmoob,'' ; Nyiakeng Puachue: ; Pahawh: , ) is a dialect continuum of the West Hmongic branch of the Hmongic languages spoken by the Hmong people of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hainan, northern Vietnam, Thailand, ...

) ** Chuan Miao (

Western Sichuan Miao Hmong / Mong (; RPA: ''Hmoob,'' ; Nyiakeng Puachue: ; Pahawh: , ) is a dialect continuum of the West Hmongic branch of the Hmongic languages spoken by the Hmong people of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hainan, northern Vietnam, Thailand, ...

) ** Huajie Miao (= ?)

Matisoff (2001)

Matisoff 2001 removed Bu-Nao from Strecker (1987), broke up several of the remaining groups, and does not mention the unclassified languages, unless they are covered by ''Raojia'' or ''Pa Na''. Apart from those, this is basically the classification of ''Ethnologue'' 16. ;Chuanqiangdian Miao *

Chuanqiandian Cluster Miao Hmong / Mong (; Romanized Popular Alphabet, RPA: ''Hmoob,'' ; Nyiakeng Puachue Hmong, Nyiakeng Puachue: ; Pahawh: , ) is a dialect continuum of the West Hmongic branch of the Hmongic languages spoken by the Hmong people of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizho ...

GY* ''White Miao (

Daw)'' GY* ''

Njua (Green Miao)'' GY* Small Flowery Miao GY* Horned Miao GY* Hmong Dô GY* Hmong Don GY*

Large Flowery Miao The A-Hmao language, also known as Large Flowery Miao () or Northeast Yunnan Miao (), is a Hmongic language spoken in China. It is the language the Pollard script was designed for, and displays extensive tone sandhi. There is a high degree of li ...

(Northeastern Dian Miao, = A-Hmau) * Northern

* Southern Guiyang Miao * Southwestern Guiyang Miao * Central Huishui Miao * Eastern Huishui Miao * Northern Huishui Miao * Southwestern Huishui Miao * Central

* Northern Mashan Miao * Southern Mashan Miao * Western Mashan Miao *

Luopohe Miao Luobohe Miao (罗泊河 ''Luóbóhé'' Miao, Luobo River Miao, Luopohe Hmong; Xijia Miao 西家苗), also known as Hmjo or A-Hmyo, is a Miao language of China. Distribution According to Chen Qiguang (2013), there are more than 50,000 ' (Flowery M ...

(= Luobo River Miao, Hmjo) * Ge (Chonganjiang Miao, = Gejia, Zhong'an River Miao) *

Sinicized Miao Hmong / Mong (; RPA: ''Hmoob,'' ; Nyiakeng Puachue: ; Pahawh: , ) is a dialect continuum of the West Hmongic branch of the Hmongic languages spoken by the Hmong people of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hainan, northern Vietnam, Thailand, ...

( Hmong Shua) * Raojia (= ?) * Pa Na (= ?)

Wang (1983)

Wang (1983), summarized in English in Strecker 1987Strecker, David. 1987.
The Hmong-Mien Languages
" In ''Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area'', 10 , no. 2: 1–11. emphasized the diversity of Western Hmongic. The names below are from Strecker; Wang did not assign names, but identified the districts where the varieties were spoken. Chuanqiandian (Sichuan–Guizhou–Yunnan) *Chuanqiandian subgroup **

(Chuanqiandian "cluster": White Hmong, Green Mong, etc.) ** Small Flowery Miao **

* Northeastern Yunnan = Diandongbei (A-Hmau, = Large Flowery Miao) * Guiyang (Hmong) * Huishui (Mhong) * Mashan (Mang) * Luobo River (A-Hmyo) * Eastern or Zhong'an River (Mhong, Gedou) *? Pingtang *? Qianxi–Pingba–Qingzhen–Liuzhi (= Li Yunbing's Qianxi) *? Luodian Muyin ("Moyin") *? Dushan *? Luodian Pingyan *? Ziyun–Zhenning (= Li Yunbing's Ziyun) *?

*? Wangmo–Luodian (Mhang) * Pu–Nao (= Bu-Nao) **Pu Nu

ung Nu Ung or UNG may refer to: People * Woong, a Korean given name also spelled Ung * Ung (surname), a Cambodian and Norwegian surname * Ung Thị (full name Nguyễn Phúc Ung Thị; 1913–2001), Vietnamese-born American businessman * Franz Unger (1 ...

(= Bunu, Dongnu) **Nu Nu **Pu No (= Bunuo) **Nao Klao (= Baonao) **Nu Mhou (=Numao) These are not all established as unitary branches, however. In a follow-up to that paper in the same publication,http://sealang.net/sala/archives/pdf8/strecker1987some.pdf Strecker broke up Bu-Nao on the basis of newly accessible data, and noted that several of the languages listed in Wang arked "?" abovewere unclassified due to lack of data, and had not been demonstrated to be West Hmongic. The other groups are then listed as unclassified within Hmongic, and not specifically West Hmongic. However, Wang (1994) identified two as varieties of Guiyang. The eight unclassified languages are all spoken in a small area of south-central Guizhou, along with Guiyang, Huishui, Mashan, and Luobo River Miao. These were later addressed by Li Yunbing (2000).

References

*Li Jinping, Li Tianyi ��锦平, 李天翼 2012. ''A comparative study of Miao dialects'' ��语方言比较研究 Chengdu: Southwest Jiaotong University Press. {{Hmong-Mien languages Languages of China