| Moklenic | |
|---|---|
| Moken–Moklen | |
| Geographic distribution | Mergui Archipelago; Burma;Peninsular Thailand |
| Ethnicity | Moken people, Moklen people |
| Linguistic classification | Austronesian |
| Proto-language | Proto-Moklenic (Proto-Moken-Moklen) |
| Subdivisions | |
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | moke1241 |
TheMoklenic orMoken–Moklen languages consist of a pair of two closely related but distinct languages, namelyMoken andMoklen. Larish (1999) establishes the two languages as forming two distinct subgroups of a larger Moken–Moklen branch. Larish (2005)[1] suggestsMoklenic as an alternative name forMoken–Moklen, the latter term which was originally used by Larish (1999).
There are two Moklenic languages.[1]
Moken and Moklen are linguistically and culturally related but distinct from each other, with Moken speakers primarily being sea-based hunter-gatherers, while Moklen speakers are land-based people living in villages and towns of southern Thailand (Larish 2005). Comparative studies of Moken and Moklen include those of Leerabhandh (1984),[2] Makboon (1981),[3] and Larish (1999).
The Moklenic languages are spoken along a 650-kilometer stretch of the west coast of southern Myanmar and southern Thailand, fromTavoy Island, Burma toPhi Phi Island, Thailand (Larish 2005). Moken has a very wide distribution, while Moklen is exclusively spoken on the western coast of southern Thailand. Moklen displays heavySouthern Thai influence and is more endangered than Moken.[1]
Urak Lawoi’ is spoken by another group ofSea Gypsies in southern Thailand. It is one of theMalayic languages, and is not a Moklenic language. OnPhuket Island, Urak Lawoi’ is in contact withMoken.
Larish (1999, 2005) considers Moklenic to be asister of theChamic andMalayic languages rather than as part of them. Moklenic languages have also been strongly influenced byAustroasiatic languages, with many of those Austroasiatic loanwords, such as 'bird', also found inChamic.[4]
Larish (1999)[4] classifies the two languagesMoken andMoklen as part of a larger Moklenic–Acehnese-Chamic-Malayic ("MACM") subgroup.
While the Acehnese-Chamic-Malayic languages display aProto-Malayo-Polynesian *q > *hsound change, Moklenic languages instead display aProto-Malayo-Polynesian *q > *ksound change. InDuano, although belongs to the Malayic branch,*q changes into*k instead of usual*h (*qulu → Duanokulu, but Proto-Malayic*hulu),[5] shared with Moklenic.
Larish (1999) also speculates that the unknown extinct language (or languages) of theFunan Empire in southern Vietnam may have been an early split from Proto-Moklenic–Acehnese-Chamic-Malayic.
In a recent classification of the westernMalayo-Polynesian languages, Smith (2017: 459)[6] argues based on phonological evidence that Moklenic is a primary branch fromProto-Malayo-Polynesian.
Proto-Moken-Moklen has been reconstructed by Larish (1999).[4]