Para-Mongolic languages
Para-Mongolic is a proposed group of languages that is considered to be an extinct sister branch of the Mongolic languages. Para-Mongolic contains certain historically attested extinct languages, among them Khitan and Tuyuhun. LanguagesThe languages of the Xiongnu, Donghu and Wuhuan might be Para-Mongolic,[1] as might those of the Xianbei and the Tuoba (the founders of the Northern Wei) and Khitan. Because the surviving evidence for Xianbei and Tuoba is very sparse, one can only hypothesize that a genetic relationship could be possible. In the case of Khitan, there is rich evidence, but most of it is written in the two Khitan scripts (large and small) that have yet to be fully deciphered. However, from the available evidence it has been concluded that a genetic relationship to Mongolic is likely.[2][3] TuobaAlexander Vovin (2007) identifies the extinct Tuoba language (Tabɣač) as a Mongolic language.[4] However, Chen (2005)[5] argues that Tuoba was a Turkic language. Shimunek classifies Tuoba as a "Serbi" (i.e., para-Mongolic) language, along with Tuyuhun and Khitan.[6] RouranAlexander Vovin (2018) suggests that the Rouran language of the Rouran Khaganate was a Mongolic language, close but not identical to Middle Mongolian.[7] Pannonian AvarShimunek (2017) proposes that the elite core of the Avars spoke a "Para-Mongolic language" of the "Serbi–Awar" group, that is a sister branch of the Mongolic languages. Together, the Serbi–Awar and Mongolic languages make up the Serbi–Mongolic languages.[6] KhitanJuha Janhunen (2006) classified the Khitan language into the "Para-Mongolic" family, meaning that it is related to the Mongolic languages as a sister group, rather than as a direct descendant of Proto-Mongolic.[8] Alexander Vovin (2017)[9] has also identified several possible loanwords from Koreanic languages into the Khitan language. TuyuhunVovin (2015) identified the extinct Tuyuhun language as a Para-Mongolic language.[10] Internal classificationShimunek (2017) proposes a "Serbi–Awar" group of languages that is a sister branch of the Mongolic languages. Together, the Serbi–Awar and Mongolic languages make up the Serbi–Mongolic languages in Shimunek's classification.[6]
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