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Tai languages are classified as a branch of the Kra–Dai language family, sometimes further subgrouped under Kam–Tai and Be–Tai.
Answer: True
Tai languages are indeed a branch of the Kra–Dai language family, with further subgroupings sometimes including Kam–Tai and Be–Tai.
The geographic distribution of Tai languages is limited to Southeast Asia, with no significant presence in China or India.
Answer: False
Tai languages are geographically distributed across Southern China, Southeast Asia, and parts of Northeast India, indicating a broader presence than just Southeast Asia.
Standard Thai, Lao, Shan, and Zhuang are among the most widely spoken languages within the Tai family.
Answer: True
Standard Thai, Lao, Shan, and Zhuang are explicitly mentioned as some of the most widely spoken languages within the Tai family.
The Zhuang people are China's second-largest minority ethnic group, primarily residing in Hunan province.
Answer: False
The Zhuang people constitute China's largest minority ethnic group, not the second-largest, and primarily reside in Guangxi, not Hunan province.
In Vietnam, Central Tai languages are known as Zhuang, while in China, they are referred to as Tay and Nung.
Answer: False
The statement reverses the geographic distribution: Central Tai languages are known as Zhuang in China, and Tay and Nung in Vietnam.
Standard Zhuang is based on the dialect spoken in Wuming District's Shuangqiao.
Answer: True
Standard Zhuang is indeed based on the dialect spoken in Shuangqiao (双桥) within Wuming District.
What is the broader linguistic classification to which Tai languages belong?
Answer: Kra–Dai
Tai languages are classified as a branch of the Kra–Dai language family.
In which region of China are Tai languages NOT explicitly mentioned as being geographically distributed?
Answer: Sichuan
The geographic distribution of Tai languages in China explicitly mentions Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Guangdong, but not Sichuan.
Which of these languages is the national language of Laos and a widely spoken language within the Tai family?
Answer: Lao
Lao (or Laotian) is identified as the national language of Laos and one of the most widely spoken languages within the Tai family.
What is the population size of the Zhuang people, China's largest minority ethnic group?
Answer: 15.55 million
The Zhuang people, China's largest minority ethnic group, have a population of 15.55 million.
What are the Central Tai languages called in Vietnam?
Answer: Tay and Nung
In Vietnam, the Central Tai languages are known as Tay and Nung, while in China they are referred to as Zhuang.
What is the dialectal basis for Standard Zhuang?
Answer: The dialect spoken in Shuangqiao, Wuming District.
Standard Zhuang is based on the dialect spoken in Shuangqiao (双桥), located in Wuming District.
The Tai language family is exclusively known as Tai languages, without any alternative names.
Answer: False
The Tai language family is also known by alternative names such as Zhuang–Tai or Daic languages, which are used interchangeably.
In English linguistics, 'Thai' is the generic name for the language family, while 'Tai' refers specifically to the national language of Thailand.
Answer: False
In English linguistics, 'Tai' is the generic name for the language family, while 'Thai' refers to the national language of Thailand. The question reverses these definitions.
Anthony Diller noted that Lao scholars have suggested Thai should be considered a member of the Lao language family, rather than Lao being classified as Tai.
Answer: True
Anthony Diller indeed reported that Lao scholars have expressed a preference for classifying Thai as part of the Lao language family, challenging the conventional classification.
Paul K. Benedict (1975) used the term 'Thai' to refer to a narrower grouping than what is now generally called 'Tai'.
Answer: False
Paul K. Benedict (1975) used 'Thai' to refer to a *broader* grouping, encompassing what is now generally called 'Tai', not a narrower one.
In Thailand's institutional context, 'Tai' is used to denote varieties of the language family not spoken in Thailand or spoken there only due to recent immigration.
Answer: True
In Thailand's institutional context, 'Tai' specifically refers to varieties of the language family that are not indigenous to Thailand or are present due to recent immigration.
Scholars like William J. Gedney and Li Fang-Kuei preferred 'Thai' over 'Siamese' for the standard language of Thailand to emphasize its connection to the broader Tai family.
Answer: False
Scholars like Gedney and Li Fang-Kuei preferred 'Siamese' over 'Thai' for the standard language of Thailand to *reduce confusion* between the national language and the broader Tai language family, not to emphasize connection.
Michel Ferlus proposed that the ethnonyms Tai/Thai originated from the etymon *k(ə)ri:, meaning 'human being'.
Answer: True
Michel Ferlus's etymological research indeed suggests that the ethnonyms Tai/Thai evolved from the Proto-Tai etymon *k(ə)ri:, signifying 'human being'.
Which of the following is NOT an alternative name used to refer to the Tai language family?
Answer: Austro-Thai
The Tai language family is known by names such as Tai, Zhuang–Tai, and Daic languages. 'Austro-Thai' refers to a broader, hypothesized macrofamily, not an alternative name for the Tai family itself.
According to Anthony Diller, what alternative perspective have Lao scholars expressed regarding the classification of Lao and Thai?
Answer: That Thai should be considered a member of the Lao language family.
Anthony Diller noted that Lao scholars have suggested that Thai should be considered a member of the Lao language family, rather than Lao being classified under Tai.
Why did scholars like Gedney and Li prefer 'Siamese' over 'Thai' for the standard language of Thailand?
Answer: To reduce confusion between the national language and the broader language family.
Scholars such as William J. Gedney and Li Fang-Kuei preferred 'Siamese' to 'Thai' for the standard language of Thailand to reduce potential confusion between the national language and the broader Tai language family.
What is Michel Ferlus's proposed etymon for the ethnonyms Tai/Thai?
Answer: *k(ə)ri:
Michel Ferlus proposed that the ethnonyms Tai/Thai originated from the etymon *k(ə)ri:, meaning 'human being'.
Jerold A. Edmondson dated the split between Zhuang and Southwestern Tai languages to the 19th century, based on the adoption of family names by the Thai.
Answer: False
Jerold A. Edmondson dated the split between Zhuang and Southwestern Tai languages to between 112 BCE and the 5th–6th century AD, citing the shared exonym for Vietnamese and the differing timelines for adopting family names.
Pittayawat Pittayaporn (2014) suggests the dispersal of Southwestern Tai languages began between the 8th and 10th centuries AD, based on Chinese loanwords.
Answer: True
Pittayawat Pittayaporn (2014) indeed proposed that the dispersal of Southwestern Tai languages commenced between the 8th and 10th centuries AD, a conclusion supported by the analysis of Chinese loanwords.
Proto-Kra–Dai, the ancestral language of Tai languages, is hypothesized to have originated in the Lower Yangtze valleys of present-day China.
Answer: True
The hypothesized origin of Proto-Kra–Dai, the ancestral language of the Tai family, is indeed the Lower Yangtze valleys in modern-day China.
Ancient Chinese texts referred to all non-Sinitic languages spoken in the Lower Yangtze valleys as 'Han'.
Answer: False
Ancient Chinese texts referred to non-Sinitic languages and their speakers in the Lower Yangtze valleys as 'Yue', not 'Han'.
The 'Song of the Yue Boatman' is a crucial direct record of non-Sinitic speech from pre-Qin and Han times, transcribed in 528 BC.
Answer: True
The 'Song of the Yue Boatman', transcribed in 528 BC, is considered a vital direct record of non-Sinitic speech from the pre-Qin and Han periods, offering insights into ancient South China languages.
Zhengzhang Shangfang (1991) used modern Thai pronunciation to analyze the 'Song of the Yue Boatman', building on Wei Qingwen's work.
Answer: False
Zhengzhang Shangfang (1991) utilized 13th-century Thai orthography for the analysis of the 'Song of the Yue Boatman', not modern Thai pronunciation, because it preserved older linguistic features.
What was one piece of evidence Jerold A. Edmondson used to date the split between Zhuang and Southwestern Tai languages?
Answer: The shared exonym kəʔuA1 for Vietnamese among Zhuang and Thai peoples.
Jerold A. Edmondson cited the shared exonym kəʔuA1 for Vietnamese among Zhuang and Thai peoples as evidence for dating the split between Zhuang and Southwestern Tai languages.
When did Pittayawat Pittayaporn (2014) suggest the dispersal of Southwestern Tai languages likely began?
Answer: Sometime between the 8th and 10th centuries AD
Pittayawat Pittayaporn (2014) suggested that the dispersal of Southwestern Tai languages likely began between the 8th and 10th centuries AD, based on Chinese loanwords.
Where is Proto-Kra–Dai, the ancestral language of Tai languages, hypothesized to have originated?
Answer: The Lower Yangtze valleys
Proto-Kra–Dai, the ancestral language of Tai languages, is hypothesized to have originated in the Lower Yangtze valleys of present-day China.
What term did ancient Chinese texts use to refer to non-Sinitic languages and their speakers in the Lower Yangtze valleys?
Answer: Yue
Ancient Chinese texts referred to non-Sinitic languages and their speakers in the Lower Yangtze valleys as 'Yue'.
What makes the 'Song of the Yue Boatman' significant in historical-comparative linguistics?
Answer: It provides a direct record of non-Sinitic speech from pre-Qin and Han times.
The 'Song of the Yue Boatman' is significant because it offers one of the few direct records of non-Sinitic speech from the pre-Qin and Han periods.
Which linguist used 13th-century Thai orthography for comparison when analyzing the 'Song of the Yue Boatman'?
Answer: Zhengzhang Shangfang
Zhengzhang Shangfang (1991) utilized 13th-century Thai orthography for comparative analysis in deciphering the 'Song of the Yue Boatman'.
André-Georges Haudricourt (1956) proposed a three-way distinction for Tai languages: Dioi, Tai proper, and Central Tai.
Answer: False
André-Georges Haudricourt (1956) proposed a two-way distinction for Tai languages: the 'Dioi group' and 'Tai proper', not a three-way distinction including Central Tai.
Haudricourt identified the absence of aspirated stops and affricates as a characteristic of the Dioi group, which are common in Tai proper.
Answer: True
Haudricourt indeed noted the absence of aspirated stops and affricates as a distinguishing feature of the Dioi group, contrasting with their prevalence in Tai proper.
Li Fang-Kuei (1977) classified Tai languages into Northern Tai, Central Tai, and Southwestern Tai, with Thai included in the Southwestern branch.
Answer: True
Li Fang-Kuei's (1977) classification established three sister branches: Northern Tai, Central Tai, and Southwestern Tai, with Thai being a member of the Southwestern branch.
Li Fang-Kuei's Northern group corresponds to Haudricourt's Tai proper category.
Answer: False
Li Fang-Kuei's Northern group corresponds to Haudricourt's *Dioi group*, while Li's Central and Southwestern groups together correspond to Haudricourt's 'Tai proper' category.
Central Tai is widely considered a monophyletic group in Li Fang-Kuei's classification scheme.
Answer: False
A known issue with Li Fang-Kuei's classification is that Central Tai does not appear to be a monophyletic group.
Gedney (1989) proposed that Northern Tai forms a distinct subgroup with Central Tai, separate from Southwestern Tai.
Answer: False
Gedney (1989) proposed that Central and Southwestern Tai form a distinct subgroup, with Northern Tai as a separate sister branch, which is the opposite of the statement.
Luo Yongxian (1997) introduced a 'Northwestern Tai' branch, including languages like Ahom and Shan, as coordinate to other Tai branches.
Answer: True
Luo Yongxian (1997) indeed introduced a 'Northwestern Tai' branch, which includes languages such as Ahom and Shan, and considered it coordinate to the other Tai branches.
André-Georges Haudricourt (1956) primarily divided Tai languages into which two groups?
Answer: Dioi group and Tai proper
André-Georges Haudricourt (1956) primarily divided Tai languages into the 'Dioi group' and 'Tai proper'.
Which characteristic did Haudricourt identify for the Dioi group?
Answer: A divergent vowel system.
Haudricourt identified a divergent vowel system as a key characteristic of the Dioi group, among other features like an 'r-' sound corresponding to 'l-' in other Tai languages and the absence of aspirated stops and affricates.
Which of the following languages was NOT included in Haudricourt's 'Dioi group'?
Answer: Shan
Haudricourt's 'Dioi group' included Yei Zhuang, Yongbei Zhuang, Youjiang Zhuang, and Bouyei (Buyi). Shan was classified under his 'Tai proper' group.
How did Li Fang-Kuei (1977) classify the Tai languages?
Answer: Northern Tai, Central Tai, and Southwestern Tai
Li Fang-Kuei (1977) classified the Tai languages into three sister branches: Northern Tai, Central Tai, and Southwestern Tai.
What is a known issue with Li Fang-Kuei's classification of Central Tai?
Answer: It does not appear to be a monophyletic group.
A known issue with Li Fang-Kuei's classification is that the Central Tai group does not appear to be monophyletic.
Which new branch did Luo Yongxian (1997) introduce into the classification of Tai languages?
Answer: Northwestern Tai
Luo Yongxian (1997) introduced a fourth branch, 'Northwestern Tai', into the classification of Tai languages.
Which of the following languages is included in Luo Yongxian's Northwestern Tai branch?
Answer: Ahom
Luo Yongxian's Northwestern Tai branch includes languages such as Ahom, Shan, Dehong Dai, and Khamti.
Pittayawat Pittayaporn's (2009) classification is based on identifying shared innovations, and it considers Central Tai to be a monophyletic group.
Answer: False
While Pittayaporn's (2009) classification is based on shared innovations, it considers Central Tai to be *paraphyletic*, not monophyletic, and consequently splits it into multiple branches.
In Pittayaporn's (2009) classification, the Zhuang varieties of Chongzuo are noted for having the least internal diversity.
Answer: False
Pittayaporn's (2009) classification notes that the Zhuang varieties of Chongzuo, particularly those in the Zuo River valley, exhibit the *most* internal diversity, not the least.
According to Pittayaporn (2009), Proto-Tai *uj, *uw became *aj, *aw in Subgroup N, but *iː, *uː in Subgroups Q and B.
Answer: True
Pittayaporn's (2009) analysis of Proto-Tai reflexes shows that *uj, *uw evolved into *aj, *aw in Subgroup N, but into *iː, *uː in Subgroups Q and B.
At node E in Pittayaporn's (2009) classification, the sound change *k.r- becoming *qr- was observed.
Answer: False
At node E, the sound changes observed were *p.t- becoming *p.r- and *ʔm̥ changing to *ʔm. The change *k.r- becoming *qr- occurred at node G.
Jerold A. Edmondson's (2013) classification of Tai languages utilized computational phylogenetic analysis to infer evolutionary relationships.
Answer: True
Jerold A. Edmondson's (2013) classification of Tai languages was indeed based on computational phylogenetic analysis, a method for inferring evolutionary relationships.
Edmondson's (2013) phylogenetic analysis concluded that Central Tai is a coherent, monophyletic branch.
Answer: False
Edmondson's (2013) phylogenetic analysis showed that Northern Tai, Southwestern Tai, Tay, and Nung are coherent branches, but it did not conclude that Central Tai is a coherent, monophyletic branch.
Buyi, Yay, Po-Ai, Wuming Zhuang, and Mashan Zhuang were included in Edmondson's (2013) Northern Tai branch.
Answer: True
Edmondson's (2013) Northern Tai branch indeed included Buyi, Yay, Po-Ai, Wuming Zhuang, and Mashan Zhuang.
What was the primary basis of Pittayawat Pittayaporn's (2009) preliminary classification of Tai languages?
Answer: Identifying clusters of shared innovations.
Pittayawat Pittayaporn's (2009) preliminary classification of Tai languages was primarily based on identifying clusters of shared innovations.
In Pittayaporn's (2009) classification, which Tai branches remained intact, consistent with Li Fang-Kuei's 1977 system?
Answer: Southwestern Tai and Northern Tai
In Pittayaporn's (2009) classification, the Southwestern Tai and Northern Tai branches remained intact, consistent with Li Fang-Kuei's 1977 system.
According to Pittayaporn (2009), what happened to Proto-Tai *we, *wo in Subgroup N?
Answer: They became *iː, *uː.
According to Pittayaporn (2009), Proto-Tai *we, *wo became *iː, *uː in Subgroup N.
What specific sound changes occurred at node E in Pittayaporn's (2009) classification?
Answer: *p.t- becoming *p.r- and *ʔm̥ changing to *ʔm
At node E in Pittayaporn's (2009) classification, the sound changes observed were *p.t- becoming *p.r- and *ʔm̥ changing to *ʔm.
What methodology did Jerold A. Edmondson (2013) use for his Tai language classification?
Answer: Computational phylogenetic analysis.
Jerold A. Edmondson (2013) employed computational phylogenetic analysis as the methodology for his Tai language classification.
Which languages did Edmondson (2013) classify under the core Central Tai subgroup?
Answer: Nung Chau, Pingxiang Zhuang, Leiping Zhuang, Ningming Zhuang
Edmondson (2013) classified Nung Chau, Pingxiang Zhuang, Leiping Zhuang, and Ningming Zhuang under the core Central Tai subgroup.
What specific sound changes occurred at node K in Pittayaporn's (2009) classification?
Answer: *eː, *oː becoming *ɛː, *ɔː
At node K in Pittayaporn's (2009) classification, the sound changes observed were *eː, *oː becoming *ɛː, *ɔː.
Which languages did Edmondson (2013) include in his Northern Tai branch?
Answer: Buyi, Yay, Po-Ai, Wuming Zhuang, and Mashan Zhuang
Edmondson (2013) included Buyi, Yay, Po-Ai, Wuming Zhuang, and Mashan Zhuang in his Northern Tai branch.
Many Southwestern Tai languages use writing systems derived from the Brahmi script.
Answer: True
Many Southwestern Tai languages indeed employ writing systems that trace their origins to the ancient Indian Brahmi script.
Zhuang languages are exclusively written using a romanized alphabet, having completely abandoned the traditional Sawndip.
Answer: False
While a romanized alphabet is officially used for Zhuang languages, the traditional Sawndip writing system, based on Chinese characters, remains in use today.
The Proto-Tai word for 'wind' is reconstructed as *dluom, which evolved into /lɔm/ in Thai and /lɔ́m/ in Lao.
Answer: True
The Proto-Tai word for 'wind' is reconstructed as *dluom, and its reflexes in Thai and Lao are indeed /lɔm/ and /lɔ́m/ respectively.
The Proto-Tai word for 'earth' is reconstructed as *ʔdin, which evolved into /din/ in Thai and /dìn/ in Lao.
Answer: True
The Proto-Tai word for 'earth' is reconstructed as *ʔdin, and its reflexes in Thai and Lao are indeed /din/ and /dìn/ respectively.
The Proto-Tai word for 'fire' is reconstructed as *wɯjA, which evolved into /faːj/ in Thai and /fáːj/ in Lao.
Answer: False
While the Proto-Tai word for 'fire' is reconstructed as *wɯjA and evolved into /faːj/ in Thai and /fáːj/ in Lao, the statement is incomplete as the flashcard indicates it also evolved into distinct forms in Northern Thai, Shan, Tai Lü, Standard Zhuang, and Ahom.
From which ancient writing system are many Southwestern Tai languages' alphabets derived?
Answer: Brahmi script
Many Southwestern Tai languages utilize alphabets derived from the ancient Indian Brahmi script.
What is the traditional writing system for Zhuang languages?
Answer: Sawndip
The traditional writing system for Zhuang languages is Sawndip, which uses Chinese characters.
What is the Proto-Tai word reconstructed for 'water'?
Answer: *C.namC
The Proto-Tai word reconstructed for 'water' is *C.namC.
How does the Proto-Tai word for 'heart' (*cɯʔA) typically appear in Standard Zhuang?
Answer: /sim/
The Proto-Tai word for 'heart' (*cɯʔA) typically appears as /sim/ in Standard Zhuang.
Which of the following is NOT a specific writing system mentioned for Tai languages?
Answer: Devanagari script
Specific writing systems mentioned for Tai languages include Thai script, Lao script, and Shan script. Devanagari script is an Indic script but not specifically listed as a Tai writing system in the provided text.
The Proto-Tai word for 'town' is reconstructed as *mɯəŋA. How does this compare to its form in Shan?
Answer: /mɔ́ŋ/
The Proto-Tai word for 'town' (*mɯəŋA) evolved into /mɔ́ŋ/ in Shan.