The Hmong-Mien or Miao-Yao languages are a language family of southern China and Southeast Asia. The 32 languages in the family are spoken in mountainous areas of southern China, including Guizhou, Hunan, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangxi and Hubei provinces, as well as in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar. As a result of the Indochinese wars, many Hmong-Mien speakers left Southeast Asia for Australia, the United States, and other countries.
Earlier linguistic classifications grouped the Hmong-Mien languages into the Sino-Tibetan language family, but the current consensus among most linguists is that they constitute a separate family. The family, like the Tai-Kadai languages, may have its origins in southern China. Some have conjectured that the Hmong-Mien languages are part of the Austric superfamily. Hmong (Mandarin Miáo) and Mien (Mandarin Yáo) are clearly distinct. The poorly known She language may be closest to Mien.
Hmong & Mien languages (32 languages)
- Hmongic languages (26)
- Bunu languages (5)
- Younuo Bunu language
- Wunai Bunu language
- Bu-Nao Bunu language
- Baheng Bunu language
- Jiongnai Bunu language
- Chuanqiandian languages (16)
- Hmong Njua language
- Southern Mashan Hmong language
- Central Huishui Hmong language
- Northeasern Dian Hmong language
- Eastern Huishui Hmong language
- Southwestern Guiyang Hmong language
- Southwestern Huishui Hmong language
- Chonganjiang Hmong language
- Luopohe Hmong language
- Central Mashan Hmong language
- Northern Huishui Hmong language
- Northern Mashan Hmong language
- Western Mashan Hmong language
- Southern Guiyang Hmong language
- Northern Guiyang Hmong language
- Hmong Daw language
- Qiandong languages (3)
- Northern Qiandong Hmong language
- Eastern Qiandong Hmong language
- Southern Qiandong Hmong language
- Xiangxi languages (2)
- Western Xiangxi Hmong language
- Eastern Xiangxi Hmong language
- Ho Nte languages (1)
- Mienic languages (5)
- Biao-Jiao languages (1)
- Mian-Jin languages (3)
- Biao Mien language
- Iu Mien language
- Kim Mun language
- Zaomin languages (1)
