Re: A new Indo-European subfamily in China

Roger Mills wrote:

>There are AN languages in Hainan, but I'm not sure they can be classified as
>_Chamic_ -- that usually applies to the better known langs. of inland
>southern Vietnam.
Here's the Ethnologue entry for the language in question:

TSAT (UTSAT, UTSET, HUIHUI, HUI, HAINAN CHAM) [HUQ] 4,500 (1991 I.
Maddieson). Southern Hainan, villages of Huixin and Huihui in the
Yanglan suburban district of Sanya City. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian,
Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Achinese-Chamic, Chamic,
North. The phonology suggests a history of some independence from other
Chamic languages (Maddieson). Their name for themselves is 'Utsat', for
their language 'Tsat'. 'Huihui' or 'Hui' is the Chinese name. Typology:
Tonal. Muslim. Survey needed.

> Years ago, in fact, one of my students unearthed a
>journal article from North Vietnam (in Vietnamese, unfortunately) describing
>a language of interior NVN that was clearly AN.
That's interesting! Is it listed in the ethnoogue? Its probably tonal,
right?

>  Well, when the Cham state
>collapsed around 1000-1200 CE, undoubtedly relic groups took off in all
>directions.
Yeah... and its interesting to note that most of them are Muslims, even
though their country collapsed when they were Hindu/Buddhists. Even the
Chams in Hainan are staunch Muslims. Despite their collapse and dispersion,
they must have continued to keep in touch with each other.

-kristian- 8)