The Pyu language that preceded Burmese in Burma is sometimes linked to the Lolo-Burmese family, but there is no good evidence for any particular classification, and it is best left unclassified within Sino-Tibetan.

Löffler (1966) and Bradley (1997) consider the Mru language to be closely related to or part of Lolo-Burmese,[2][3] while Matisoff includes Mruic in the Northeast Indian areal group.

The transmission through Chinese makes interpretation difficult, but most authors believe the language to be Lolo-Burmese or a close relative.

[5] Guillaume Jacques & Alexis Michaud (2011)[6] argue for a Burmo-Qiangic branch with two primary subbranches, Na-Qiangic (i.e. Naxi-Qiangic) and Lolo-Burmese.

In later publications, in place of Loloish, David Bradley instead uses the term Ngwi based on a conservative autonym in the Sanie language.