Thou-Kathu language


Kathu and Thou constitute a Lolo-Burmese language of Balong, Nanping Township, Guangnan County, Yunnan, China. The Kathu are locally known as the White Yi. Wu Zili estimates that Kathu has a total of more than 7,000 speakers in Guangnan County, as well as in Jinping County, Yunnan. Ethnologue mentions a possible presence in Guangxi Province.
Kathu-Thou is notable for having initial consonant clusters, which within the Lolo-Burmese branch are also found in Written Burmese and Jinuo. Wu lists the onset clusters pl, pʰl, bl, ml, kl, kʰl, gl, ql, qʰl, ɢl, ŋl.

Varieties

Hsiu identifies two varieties, both spoken in Nanping Township.
Kathu vocabulary is largely similar to those of other Mondzish languages. However, there are various words that do not appear to be of Lolo-Burmese origin, and are derived from an unknown Tibeto-Burman branch. Hsiu suggests that Kathu could be added to George van Driem's list of Trans-Himalayan "fallen leaves."
Bradley classified Kathu as a Northern Loloish language, while Bradley classified it as a Southeastern Loloish language. However, Pelkey notes that Kathu and Mo'ang are not Southeastern Loloish languages.