The Loloish languages, also known as Ngwi or in China as Yi, are a family of perhaps fifty languages of the Tibeto-Burman language family. They are most closely related to Burmese and its relatives.
Internal classification
Loloish is traditionally divided into a northern branch, with Lisu and the numerous Yi languages, and a southern branch, with everything else. However, per Thurgood (2003:8) there is also a central branch, with languages from both northern and southern. Ethnologue (2009) adds a fourth, southeastern branch:
Northern Loloish: Yi languages such as Nuosu, Laghuu, etc.
Central Loloish: Lisu–Lipho, Sani–Axi Yi, Micha (Central) Yi, Lahu, Jinuo, etc.
Southern Loloish: Akha–Hani, Phunoi–Bisu, and ’Ugong (aberrant)
Southeastern Loloish: Phula, Azha, Khlula, Muji, Phowa, Pholo, etc.
The Tujia language is difficult to classify due to massive influence from both Yi and Chinese. However, it may turn out to be a Loloish language. Bai also has numerous connections to Loloish, but its oldest core of vocabulary appears to be Old Chinese, and so it may be a Sinitic rather than Loloish language.
