Cai–Long languages
| Cai–Long | |
|---|---|
| Ta–Li | |
| (tentative) | |
| Geographic distribution | western Guizhou, China |
| Linguistic classification | Sino-Tibetan |
| Subdivisions | |
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | tali1265 |
The Cai–Long (Chinese: 蔡龙语支) or Ta–Li languages are a group of Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in western Guizhou, China. Only Caijia is still spoken, while Longjia and Luren are extinct. The branch was first recognized by Chinese researchers in the 1980s, with the term Cai–Long (Chinese: 蔡龙语支) first mentioned in Guizhou (1982: 43).
Cai-Long languages are primarily spoken in China's southern regions, particularly in China's southwest in Guizhou. Guizhou is a diverse region exhibiting different languages such as the Sino-Tibetan; Southwestern Mandarin, Laba Miao Chinese, Yi 彝, formerly Bo/Bai, Tunbu/Tunbao Chinese, Tujia and Chuanqing Chinese, Hmong-Mien; Xong, Hmong and Yao, and Kra-Dai languages; Dong/Kam, Buyi/Bouyei, Gelao, formerly also Mulao, Sui/Shui, and Yi 羿. The languages are unclassified within Sino-Tibetan, and could be Sinitic or Macro-Bai.