Diffloth & Zide (1992) The Palaungic family includes at least three branches, with the position of some languages as yet unclear. Lamet, for example, is sometimes classified as a separate branch. The following classification follows that of
Diffloth & Zide (1992), as quoted in Sidwell (2009:131). • Western Palaungic (Palaung–Riang) •
Palaung •
Shwe (Gold Palaung, De'ang) • De'ang •
Pale (Silver Palaung, Ruching) •
Rumai •
Riang •
Riang proper,
Yinchia • ?
Danau (perhaps in Palaung–Riang) • Eastern Palaungic •
Angkuic •
Angku •
Hu •
Kiorr •
Kon Keu •
Man Met •
Mok •
Samtao (Samtau) •
Tai Loi •
U (Pouma) • Lametic •
Lamet (Xmet) •
Con •
Waic •
Blang • Lawa •
La •
Lawa •
Wa •
Paraok (Standard Wa) •
Khalo •
Awa Some researchers include the
Mangic languages as well, instead of grouping them with the
Pakanic languages.
Sidwell (2010) The following classification follows the branching given by Sidwell (2010, ms). •
Danau (Khano) • Palaungic proper • Western (Riang–Palaung) •
Palaung (De'ang: Shwe / Gold Palaung, Pale / Ruching / Silver Palaung, Rumai) •
Riang (Riang, Yinchia) •
Angkuic •
Hu •
U (P'uman) •
Kiorr (Kha Kior,
Con) •
Kon Keu (Angku) •
Mok (
Man Met) •
Mong Lue (Tai Loi) •
Muak Sa-aak •
Lamet (Xmet) •
Waic •
Blang (Samtao) • Lawa •
Umpai Lawa •
Bo Luang Lawa • Wa •
Paraok (Standard Wa) •
Khalo •
Awa •
Meung Yum •
Savaiq proposes an additional branch, consisting of: •
Bit–Khang •
Bit •
Kháng •
Bumang •
Quang Lam Sidwell (2015) Sidwell (2015:12) provides a revised classification of Palaungic.
Bit–Khang is clearly Palaungic, but contains many
Khmuic loanwords. Sidwell (2015:12) believes it likely groups within East Palaungic. On the other hand, Sidwell (2015) considers
Danaw to be the most divergent Palaungic language. •
Danaw • West Palaungic •
Palaung (Dara’ang, Da’ang, Palay, etc.) •
Rumai •
Riang (Riang-Lang, Riang-Sak, etc.) • East Palaungic •
Waic •
Wa (
Praok,
Awa, Vo, etc.) •
Lawa (Lawa Bo Luang, Lavua/Luwa, etc.) •
Bulang (Bulang, Plang/Samtao, Kawa, Kontoi, etc.) •
Angkuic:
U,
Hu,
Man Met/Kemie, Muak/
Mok,
Tai Loi, etc. • Lameet:
Lameet,
Con, Lua/Khamet • ?
Bit–Khang:
(Kha)bit, Buxing,
Quang Lam,
Khang/Khao,
Bumang ==Lexical innovations==