ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tə kˈaɪ ˈɛt ˈæl. tˈuː θˈaʊzənd ɪlˈɛvən, ˈeɪtʃmˈɔŋɡ mˈiːn pˈiːpəl ɑːɹ dʒɪnˈɛɾɪkli ɹᵻlˈeɪɾᵻd tʊ ˌɔːstɹoʊsɪˈæɾɪk spˈiːkɚz, ænd ðɛɹ lˈæŋɡwɪdʒᵻz wɜː hˈɛvili ˈɪnfluːənst baɪ sˈiːnoʊɾɪbˈɛtən, ɪspˈɛʃəli tɪbˈɛɾoʊbˈɜːmən lˈæŋɡwɪdʒᵻz.
According to Cai (et al. 2011), Hmong–Mien people are genetically related to Austroasiatic speakers, and their languages were heavily influenced by Sino-Tibetan, especially Tibeto-Burman languages.