The classification of the Mongolic languages

Abstract

The Mongolic languages constitute a compact language family with limited written history. Given the paucity of decisive shared features such as sound laws, it has been relatively hard to set up a Mongolic family tree. Owing to the steady increase in the number of sufficiently studied Mongolic languages and dialects in the past 60 years, Mongolists have reached a rough consensus. This chapter will provide a brief overview of published opinions and a survey of phonological, morphological, and lexical arguments traditionally used in classification. In addition, it will attempt to make use of irregular, not easily repeated, developments as an alternative avenue to fine-tune the classification.