2 The Mongolic language family
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Juha Janhunen
Abstract
Mongolic in its present-day form is a relatively shallow medium-sized language family comprising four major branches, of which two (Daghur and Moghol) are represented by a single language each, while the two others (Central Mongolic and Shirongolic) have several varieties qualifying as separate languages. All the modern Mongolic languages reflect an expansion and differentiation following the period of the historical Mongols of the 12th to 14th centuries. Historically, however, Mongolic (Micro-Mongolic) is known to have been related to the subsequently extinct Khitanic languages, of which one, Khitan, is preserved in a number of inscriptions in two partially deciphered native scripts dating back to the Liao (907-1125) and Jin (1115-1234) periods of Manchuria. The divergence of Mongolic and Khitanic from a common protolanguage (Macro-Mongolic) must predate the time of the historical Mongols by at least several centuries. Externally, Mongolic has been contacting with Turkic and Tungusic, as well as, more marginally, with Amuric, Koreanic, and Chinese. Local interaction of the individual branches has also brought Mongolic in contact with Tibetan, Iranian, Russian, and several other languages.
Abstract
Mongolic in its present-day form is a relatively shallow medium-sized language family comprising four major branches, of which two (Daghur and Moghol) are represented by a single language each, while the two others (Central Mongolic and Shirongolic) have several varieties qualifying as separate languages. All the modern Mongolic languages reflect an expansion and differentiation following the period of the historical Mongols of the 12th to 14th centuries. Historically, however, Mongolic (Micro-Mongolic) is known to have been related to the subsequently extinct Khitanic languages, of which one, Khitan, is preserved in a number of inscriptions in two partially deciphered native scripts dating back to the Liao (907-1125) and Jin (1115-1234) periods of Manchuria. The divergence of Mongolic and Khitanic from a common protolanguage (Macro-Mongolic) must predate the time of the historical Mongols by at least several centuries. Externally, Mongolic has been contacting with Turkic and Tungusic, as well as, more marginally, with Amuric, Koreanic, and Chinese. Local interaction of the individual branches has also brought Mongolic in contact with Tibetan, Iranian, Russian, and several other languages.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of contents V
- List of Contributors IX
- Introduction XI
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I Major language groups of Inner Eurasia
- 1 The Turkic language family 1
- 2 The Mongolic language family 75
- 3 The Tungusic language family 123
- 4 The Samoyed languages 167
- 5 Khanty dialects 253
- 6 Mansi dialects 281
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II Microfamilies of Siberia and Asia’s North Pacific Rim
- 7 The Yukaghir language family 307
- 8 The Yeniseian language family 365
- 9 The Amuric language family 481
- 10 The Ainuic language family 541
- 11 The Chukotko-Kamchatkan Languages 633
- 12 The Eskaleut language family 669
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of contents V
- List of Contributors IX
- Introduction XI
-
I Major language groups of Inner Eurasia
- 1 The Turkic language family 1
- 2 The Mongolic language family 75
- 3 The Tungusic language family 123
- 4 The Samoyed languages 167
- 5 Khanty dialects 253
- 6 Mansi dialects 281
-
II Microfamilies of Siberia and Asia’s North Pacific Rim
- 7 The Yukaghir language family 307
- 8 The Yeniseian language family 365
- 9 The Amuric language family 481
- 10 The Ainuic language family 541
- 11 The Chukotko-Kamchatkan Languages 633
- 12 The Eskaleut language family 669
