Kra–Dai
Let an agent explain the Kra-Dai family, relay classification, speakers, features and hypotheses from linguistic sources with attribution, describe the named branches and languages, and distinguish Kra-Dai from Sino-Tibetan, Austroasiatic, Hmong-Mien and Austronesian families.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain the Kra-Dai family, relay classification, speakers, features and hypotheses from linguistic sources with attribution, describe the named branches and languages, and distinguish Kra-Dai from Sino-Tibetan, Austroasiatic, Hmong-Mien and Austronesian families.
A language family of mainland Southeast Asia and southern China, also called Tai-Kadai, with around 90 languages and tens of millions of speakers, including Thai, Lao, Shan and the Zhuang languages such as Southern Zhuang and Zuojiang Zhuang, divided into branches such as Tai, Kam-Sui, Kra, Hlai of Hainan and the Be languages including Be-Jizhao, and smaller languages such as Thu Lao; many Kra-Dai languages are tonal, and a proposed relationship with Austronesian, the Austro-Tai hypothesis first advanced by Paul Benedict in 1942, is debated.
What it is for: Not applicable; a language family.
It can be explain classification with attribution; relay speakers and features; describe named branches and languages; distinguish neighbouring families.
Distinguishing features
Tonal languages
Southern China origins
Mainland Southeast Asian spread
Debated deeper links
What it looks like
Not a visible object; languages written in scripts such as Thai, Lao and Latin-based Zhuang.
Physical character
languages: about 90 count - Glottolog and Ethnologue vary
Austro-Tai proposal: 1942 year - Paul Benedict
largest language: Thai note
How it is recognised
Tai-Kadai language family
Kra, Hlai, Thu Lao, Southern Zhuang, Be-Jizhao languages, Zuojiang Zhuang
Sino-Tibetan includes Chinese; Austroasiatic includes Vietnamese and Khmer; Hmong-Mien includes Hmong; Austronesian is a separate family
Related models
is a kind of - in general terms
includes -
includes -
is proposed to be related to - Austro-Tai hypothesis
In practice
Families and kinds
Tai languages
Kam-Sui languages
Kra languages
Hlai languages
Be languages
Standards and regulation
ISO 639-5 code tai for Tai languages
National language policies in Thailand, Laos and China
Failure modes and hazards
Presenting Austro-Tai as settled
Confusing Tai and Thai
Stale speaker counts
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What Kra-Dai is.
Attribution.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What is the Kra-Dai family, and how does it differ from Sino-Tibetan, Austroasiatic, Hmong-Mien and Austronesian? definition
- Is the question about a specific language, classification or history? boundary
Branches
Named branches and languages.
Branches
Branches.
- What are Kra, Hlai and Be-Jizhao branches and Thu Lao, Southern Zhuang and Zuojiang Zhuang? definition
- Which entry fits the specific language? action
Linguistics Classification.
Attribution.
Internal
Internal classification.
Internal
Internal.
- How do linguists classify Kra-Dai branches, with differing proposals attributed? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Austro-Tai
Austro-Tai hypothesis.
Austro-Tai
Austro-Tai.
- What evidence is offered for and against links with Austronesian? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Features Features.
Sources.
Tones
Tones.
Tones
Tones.
- How do tone systems work in Kra-Dai languages? provenance
- Which entry fits tone (linguistics)? action
Scripts
Writing systems.
Scripts
Scripts.
- What scripts are used, such as Thai, Lao and Sawndip for Zhuang? provenance
- Which entry fits Sawndip? action
Context Speakers.
Context.
Zhuang
Zhuang people.
Zhuang
Zhuang.
- How are Zhuang languages used and taught in Guangxi? provenance
- Which entry fits Zhuang people? action
Endangered
Endangered languages.
Endangered
Endangered.
- Which small Kra-Dai languages are endangered? provenance
- Which entry fits endangered language? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should each branch be a separate entry?
- How should Glottolog and linguistic sources be linked?
- How should the Austro-Tai debate be presented?