The different Turkic dialects, of which the Osmanli is one, occupy one of the largest linguistic areas, extending from the Lena and the Polar Sea down to the Adriatic.
The languages of the South and East of Asia have been investigated by many distinguished philologists. Professor Sayce (ii. p. 33) arranges those of the cast of Africa and of Eastern and Southern Asia under the headings Bushman, Hot tentot, Kafir, Nubian. Nile, Hamitic, Semitic, Aryan, Turanian, Dravidian, Kolarian, Tibeto Burman, Thai, Mon - Anam, Khasi, Chinese, Korean, Malayo - Polynesian, Malayo - Javanese, Papuan, and Aino.
Recently, also, Mr. R. N. Cust has classified the languages of the East Indies into eight families, subdividing his Aryan family into two groups. his Tibeto-Burman family into eight, and his Malayan family into ten groups, as under :— Dr. W. T. Hunter, in his Dictionary of the non-Aryan Languages of India and High Asia, classes them as under :— 1. Reflecting types.—Arabie, Sanskrit.
2. Compounding types. — Bask, Finnic, Magyar, Turkish, Circassian, Georgian, Mongolian, Manchu, Javanese Ngoko, Javanese Krama, Malay.
3. Isolating types. — Chinese of Nankin, Amoy, Pekin, Shanghai, and Canton, Amoy colloquial, Japanese.
? Brahui.
4. Chinese Frontier and Tibet. —Gyami, Gyarung, Takpa, Manyak, Thochu, Sokpa, Horpa, Tibetan written and spoken.
6. Nepal (West to East).—Serpn, Sunwar, Curtin, Murmi, 'Nagar, Thaksya, Pnkhya, Newar, Limbu.
G. Kiranti Group, East Nepal.—Kiranti, Rodong, Rungcbenbung, Chingtangya, Nachhercng, Waling, Yakha, Chourasya, Kulungya, Thulungya, Babingya, Lohorong, Limbichhong, Balali, Sang-pang, Dumi, Khaling, 7. Broken Tribes of Denwar, Pahri, Chcpang, Vayu, Kuswar, Kusunda, Thrum. Lepcha (Sikkim).
Bhutani or Lhopa.
8. N.E. Bengal. — Bodo, Dhimal, Koch'h, Garo, Kachari.
9. Eastern Frontier of Bengal. —Munipuri, Mithan Naga, Tablung Naga, Khari Naga, Angami Naga, Namsang Naga, Nowgong Naga, Tengsa Naga, Abor Miri, Sibsagor Miri, Deoria Chutia, Singhpo.
10. Arakan and Burma. — Burman written and spoken, Khyeng or Shou, Kami, Kumi, Mru or Toung, Sak.
11. Siam and Tenasserim. —Talain or Mon, Sgau Karen, Pwo Karen, Toung-thu, Shan, Annamitic, Siamese, Ahom, Khamti, Laos.
12. Central India. — Ho (Kol), Kol (Singbhum), Santali, Bhumij, Uraon, Mundala, Rajmahali, Gondi, 'Gayeti, Rutluk, Naikude, Kolami, Madia, 'Kuri, Keikadi, Khond, Savara, Gadaba, Yerukala, Chentsu.
13. Southern ancient and modern, Malealam ancient and modern, Telugu, Karnataka ancient and modern, Tuluva, Kurgi, Toduva or Toda, Kota, Badaga, Kurumba, Irular, Singhalese.
Mr. E. L. Brandreth, in volume x. of the Royal Asiatic Society's Journal, has given the following classification of the non - Aryan languages of India, and Dr. Hunter has adopted it at page 183 of volume iv. of the Imperial Gazetteer.
Dravidian Group. — Tamil, Telugu, Canarese, Malealam, Tulu, Kodaga, Toda, Kota, the dialects of the Mahadeo, Raj, and Maria donds, Naikudi, Kolami, Kandh or Ku, Uraon or Dhangar, Male or Rajmahali, Kaikudi, Yerkala.
Kolarian Group.—Santali, Mundari, Ho or Larka Kol, Bhumij, Korwa, Kharria, Juang, Kuri, Kurku, Mehto, Savara.
Tibeto-Burman Group 1. Kachari or Bodo, Mech and Garo, Pani. Koch, Deori-Chutia, Tipura or Mrung.
ii. Tibetan or Bhutia, Sarpa, Lhopa or Bhutani, Changlo, Twang.
iii. Gurung, Murmi, Thakaya, Newar, Pahri, Magar.
iv. Lepcha.
v. Dafla, Miri, Abor, Bhutia of Lo.
vi. Aka.
vii. Dialects of the Mishmi, Chulikata, "Paying or Digaru, Mijhu.
viii. Dhimal.
ix. Dialects of Kanawar, Milchan, Tibarskad, and Sumchu.
x. Kiranti, Limbu, Sunwar, Bramu, Chepang, Vayu, Kusunda.
xi. Dialects of the Naga clans, Namsang or Jaipuria, Bonpara or Joboka, Mi-than, ea-blung, and Mulung, Khari, Naugong, Tengsa, Lhota, An gami, Rengma, Arung, Kucha, Liyang or Kareng, and Maram.
xii. Miri.
xiii. Singpho, Jili.
xiv. Burmese.
xv. Kuki dialects, Thado, Lushai, Rallami, Khyeng, Manipuri, Maring, Khoibu, Ku-pui, Tangkhul, Luhupa, Khungui, Phadang, Champhung, Ku pome, Takaimi, Andro and Sengmai, Chairel, Anal and Namfu.
xvi. Kumi, Kami, Mru, Banjogi or Lung-khe, Pankho, Shendu or Poi, Sak, Kyau.