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Glite Dictionary
Sino-Tibetan

Sino-Tibetan

9.7
A group of related languages in eastern Asia like Chinese and Tibetan
  • noun
  • /ˌsaɪnoʊ ˈtɪbɪtən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sino-tibetano
  • The problem with this policy is that it is implicitly premised on the Sino-Tibetan relationship remaining as it now stands.

Examples

  • Many linguists study the Sino-Tibetan languages to understand their tonal characteristics and historical development.

  • Chinese languages are derived from the Sino-Tibetan family and have many distinctive linguistic features.

    Academic text (2013)

  • Sino-Tibetan relations can be traced back almost 1,500 years, but the contemporary conflict is rooted in the chaotic religious and political disputes of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The Sino-Tibetan family includes languages such as Mandarin and Tibetan, which are spoken by millions in Asia.

  • Sino-Tibetan languages feature unique grammar and vocabulary that distinguish them from Indo-European languages.

Surface Forms

Sino-Tibetan singular
Sino-Tibetans plural

Morphology

Sino-Tibetan = Tibetan (semi-transparent) = Sino + Tibetan

The '-Tibetan' part is easily recognizable, but 'Sino-' is a learned combining form meaning 'Chinese' (not a standalone English word), so the overall composition is only partially transparent to typical learners.

Etymology

The word Sino-Tibetan comes from the parts Sino- meaning 'China' and Tibetan meaning 'from Tibet', so it literally points to China and Tibet. That's why Sino-Tibetan is used for the family of languages that includes Chinese and Tibetan languages.