[2] Bolyu is related to the Bugan language, forming the Pakanic branch along with it.
In 1984, Bolyu was first studied by Liang Min of the Nationalities Research Institute in Beijing.
However, Gérard Diffloth classifies Pakanic as Northern Mon–Khmer, making it most closely related to the Palaungic branch.
[3] Paul Sidwell later classified Bolyu and Bugan together as forming a separate Pakanic branch within Austroasiatic, while Mang is excluded as yet another separate branch of Austroasiatic.
[5][6][7] Li (1999) documents the Bolyu variety of Muzitun 亩子屯, Xinhe Village 新合村, Changfa Township 长发乡, Longlin County, Guangxi.