Paul K. Benedict coined the term Yipho, from Chinese Yi and a common autonymic element (-po or -pho), but it never gained wide usage.
Lama (2012) classified 36 Lolo–Burmese languages based on a computational analysis of shared phonological and lexical innovations.
He finds the Mondzish languages to be a separate branch of Lolo-Burmese, which Lama considers to have split off before Burmish did.
(See) Lahoish: Lahu, Kucong Naxish: Naxi, Namuyi Nusoish: Nusu, Zauzou (Rouruo) Kazhuoish: Katso (Kazhuo), Samu (Samatao), Sanie, Sadu,[7] Meuma[8] Lisoish: Lisu, Lolopo, etc.
[10] Satterthwaite-Phillips' (2011) computational phylogenetic analysis of the Lolo-Burmese languages does support the inclusion of Naxish (Naic) within Lolo-Burmese, but recognizes Lahoish and Nusoish as coherent language groups that form independent branches of Loloish.