Editing Kra–Dai languages (section)

==Hypotheses regarding external relationships==
===Austro-Tai===
{{Main|Austro-Tai languages}}
[[File:Genesis of Daic languages and their relation with Austronesians.png|thumb|Proposed genesis of Daic languages and their relation to [[Austronesian languages]] ([[Roger Blench|Blench]], 2018)<ref name="Blench2018">{{cite book|url=https://www.academia.edu/37593287|title=Tai-Kadai and Austronesian are Related at Multiple Levels and their Archaeological Interpretation (draft)|last1=Blench|first1=Roger|year=2018|quote=The volume of cognates between Austronesian and Daic, notably in fundamental vocabulary, is such that they must be related. Borrowing can be excluded as an explanation}}</ref>]]

Several scholars have presented evidence that Kra–Dai may be related to, or even a branch of, the [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian language family]].<ref>{{cite journal|surname=Sagart|given=Laurent|author-link=Laurent Sagart|year=2004|url=http://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/09/09/06/PDF/THE_HIGHER_PHYLOGENY_OF_AUSTRONESIAN.pdf|title=The higher phylogeny of Austronesian and the position of Tai–Kadai|journal=Oceanic Linguistics|volume=43|issue=2|pages=411–440|doi=10.1353/ol.2005.0012|s2cid=49547647}}</ref> There are a number of possible cognates in the core vocabulary, displaying regular sound correspondences. Among proponents, there is yet no agreement as to whether they are a sister group to Austronesian in a family called [[Austro-Tai languages|Austro-Tai]], a back-migration from [[Formosan languages|Taiwan]] to the mainland or a later migration from the Philippines to Hainan during the Austronesian expansion.{{sfn|Ostapirat|2013|pp = 1–10}}

The inclusion of [[Japonic languages|Japanese]] in the Austro-Tai family, as proposed by [[Paul K. Benedict]] in the late 20th century,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Japanese/Austro-Tai|last=Benedict|first=Paul K.|date=1990|publisher=Karoma|isbn=978-0-89720-078-3}}</ref> is not supported by the current proponents of the Austro-Tai hypothesis.

===Sino-Tai===
The Kra–Dai languages were formerly considered to be part of the [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan family]], partly because they contain large numbers of words that are similar to Sino-Tibetan languages. However, Western scholars generally consider them to be Sinitic loanwords and note that basic vocabulary words in Kra–Dai languages often have cognates with Austronesian instead.<ref name=Ostapirat2005>Ostapirat, Weera. (2005). "Kra–Dai and Austronesian: Notes on phonological correspondences and vocabulary distribution", pp.&nbsp;107–131 in Sagart, Laurent, Blench, Roger & Sanchez-Mazas, Alicia (eds.), ''The Peopling of East Asia: Putting Together Archaeology, Linguistics and Genetics.'' London/New York: Routledge-Curzon.</ref> Outside China, the Kra–Dai languages are now classified as an independent family. In China, they are called ''Dong–Tai'' (侗台) or ''Zhuang–Dong'' (壮侗) languages and are generally included, along with the [[Hmong–Mien languages]], in the Sino-Tibetan family.<ref>Luo, Yongxian. 2008. Sino-Tai and Tai-Kadai: Another look. In Anthony V. N. Diller and Jerold A. Edmondson and Yongxian Luo (eds.), ''The Tai-Kadai Languages'', 9–28. London & New York: Routledge.</ref>

===Hmong–Mien===
Kosaka (2002) has argued specifically for a [[Proto-Hmong–Mien#Kra-Dai|Miao–Dai family]]. Based on proposed lexical cognates, he proposes a genetic relation between Hmong–Mien and Kra–Dai languages. He further suggests that similarities between Kra–Dai and Austronesian are due to later areal contact in the coastal areas of eastern and southeastern China or an older ancestral relation (Proto-[[East Asian languages|East Asian]]).<ref name="Kosaka">Kosaka, Ryuichi. 2002. "[http://sealang.net/sala/archives/pdf8/kosaka2002affiliation.pdf On the affiliation of Miao-Yao and Kadai: Can we posit the Miao–Dai family]." ''[[Mon-Khmer Studies]]'' 32:71–100.</ref>

===Japonic===
[[Alexander Vovin|Vovin]] (2014) has proposed that the location of the [[Japonic languages|Japonic]] [[Urheimat]] (linguistic homeland) is in southern China. He argues for typological evidence that Proto-Japanese may have been a monosyllabic, SVO syntax and isolating language, which is also characteristic of Kra–Dai languages. According to him, these common features are however not due to a genetic relationship but rather the result of intense contact.<ref name=Vovin>Vovin, Alexander (2014). [https://www.academia.edu/7869241/Out_of_Southern_China ''Out Of Southern China? --some linguistic and philological musings on the possible Urheimat of the Japonic language family--''] ''XXVIIes Journées de Linguistique d'Asie Orientale 26–27 juin 2014''.</ref>