Tibeto-Burman - Definition and Overview

The Tibeto-Burman linguistic subfamily of the proposed Sino-Tibetan language family is spoken in various central and south Asian countries: Myanmar (Burmese language), Tibet (Tibetan language), northern Thailand (Mong language), Nepal, Bhutan, India (Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir), and western Pakistan (Balti language).

The subfamily includes approximately 350 languages; Burmese has the most speakers (approximately 32 million). Approximately six million Tibetans speak one of several related languages.

Tibeto-Burman languages

• Bai language (China)
• Himalayish languages
  • Mahakiranti languages
    • Chepang language (Nepal)
    • Kham language (Nepal)
    • Eastern Magar language (Nepal)
    • Western Magar language (Nepal)
    • Jerung language (Nepal)
    • Newari language (Nepal)
  • Tibeto-Kanauri languages
    • Lepcha language (India)
    • Tshangla language (Bhutan)
    • Eastern Gurung language (Nepal)
    • Western Gurung language (Nepal)
    • Dzongkha language (Bhutan)
    • Sherpa language (Nepal)
    • Sikkimese language (India)
    • Balti language (Pakistan)
    • Ladakhi language (India)
• Jingpho-Konyak-Bodo languages
  • Jingpho language (Myanmar)
  • Bodo language (India)
  • Garo language (India)
• Karen languages
  • Karen languages (Myanmar, Thailand)
  • Kayah languages (Myanmar)
• Kuki-Chin-Naga languages
  • Chin language (Myanmar)
  • Karbi language (India)
  • Naga languages (India)
  • Gangte language (India)
• Lolo-Burmese languages
  • Burmese language (Myanmar)
  • Rakhine language (Arakanese language) (Myanmar)
  • Akha language (Myanmar), (Thailand)
  • Lisu language (China), (India), (Myanmar), (Thailand)
  • Yi language (China)
• Mru language (Bangladesh)
• Meitei language (Manipuri) (India)
• North Assam languages
  • Tani lanuages
    • Adi language (India)
    • Mising language (India)
• Nungish languages
• Tangut-Qiang languages
  • Northern Qiang language (China)
  • Southern Qiang language (China)
• Tujia language (China)