Bisu language

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bisu
Native toThailand, China
Ethnicity700 in Thailand (2007)[1]
Native speakers
240 in China (2005)[1]
Language family
Sino-Tibetan
Writing system
Thai script, Latin script
Language codes
ISO 639-3bzi
Glottologbisu1244
ELPBisu

Bisu (Chinese: 毕苏语) is a Loloish language of Thailand, with a couple thousand speakers in China. Varieties are Bisu proper (Mbisu) and Laomian (Guba), considered by Pelkey to be distinct languages.

The Laomian are classified within the Lahu ethnic group; the Lahu proper call them the "Lawmeh".[2]

Distribution[]

According to Bisuyu Yanjiu 毕苏语研究 (2002), there are over 5,000 Bisu speakers in Yunnan, China, and a total of nearly 10,000 Bisu speakers in all countries combined. Within Yunnan, it is spoken mostly in Pu'er Prefecture, as well as neighboring parts of Xishuangbanna.

  • Lancang County 澜沧县
    • Zhutang 竹塘乡
      • Dazhai 大寨, Laomian 老面[3] (see Laomian language)
    • Laba 拉巴乡
    • Donglang 东朗乡
    • Fubang 富邦乡
  • Menghai County 勐海县
    • Mengzhe 勐遮乡
      • Laopinzhai 老品寨[4] (see Laopin language)
  • Ximeng County 西盟县
    • Lisuo 力锁乡
  • Menglian County 孟连县
    • Nanya 南雅乡

In Thailand, two dialects of Bisu are spoken in the following villages of Phan District, Chiang Rai Province (Bisuyu Yanjiu 2002:152).

  • Dialect 1: Huai Chomphu village (also called Ban Huaisan) and Doi Pui village
  • Dialect 2: Phadaeng village

Another variety of Bisu differing from the Phayao variety is spoken in Takɔ (Ban Thako), Mae Suai District, Chiang Rai Province.

In Laos, Bisu (pi33 su44; also called Lao-Phai) is spoken in Phudokcham village, Phongxaly District.[5]

Orthography[]

In Thailand, the Bisu language is written with the Thai script.

Consonants[]

  • ก – k – [k]
  • ข – kh – [kʰ]
  • ค – g – [g]
  • ง – ŋ – [ŋ]
  • จ – č – [t͡ʃ]
  • ช – čh – [t͡ʃʰ]
  • ซ – s – [s]
  • ฌ – š – [ʃ]
  • ญ – ñ – [ɲ]
  • ฑ – th – [tʰ]
  • ฒ – c – [ts]
  • ด – d – [d]
  • ต – t – [t]
  • ธ – th – [tsʰ]
  • น – n – [n]
  • บ – b – [b]
  • ป – p – [p]
  • พ – ph – [pʰ]
  • ม – m – [m]
  • ย – y – [j]
  • ล – l – [l]
  • ว – w – [w]
  • อ – (none) – [-]
  • ฮ – h – [h]
  • ฮม – hm – [hm]
  • ฮน – hn – [hn]
  • ฮญ – hñ – [hɲ]
  • ฮง – hŋ – [hŋ]
  • ฮล – hl – [hl]
  • ฮย – hy – [hj][6]

Vowels[]

  • -ั – a – [a]
  • -า – aa – [aː]
  • -ิ – i – [i]
  • -ี – ii – [iː]
  • -ึ – ʉ – [ʉ]
  • -ื – ʉʉ – [ʉː]
  • -ุ – u – [u]
  • -ู – uu – [u
  • เ-็ – e – [e]
  • เ- – ee – [eː]
  • แ-็ – æ – [æ]
  • แ- – ææ – [æː]
  • โ-ะ – o – [o]
  • โ- – oo – [oː]
  • -็อ – ɔ – [ɔ]
  • -อ – ɔɔ – [ɔː]
  • เ-อะ – ə – [ə]
  • เ-ิ – əə – [əː]
  • เ-า – aw – [aw]
  • ไ- – ay – [aj][6]

Tones[]

  • -่ – low
  • – - mid
  • -้ – high

References[]

  1. ^ a b Bisu at Ethnologue (17th ed., 2013)
  2. ^ Bradley (2007)
  3. ^ "Láncāng Lāhùzú Zìzhìxiàn Zhútáng Xiāng Lǎotànshān Lǎomiǎnzhài" 澜沧拉祜族自治县竹塘乡老炭山老缅寨 [Laomianzhai, Laotanshan, Zhutang Township, Lancang Lahu Autonomous County]. ynszxc.gov.cn. Archived from the original on 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
  4. ^ "Měnghǎi Xiàn Měngzhē Zhèn Mànhóng Cūnwěihuì Lǎopǐn Zìráncūn" 勐海县勐遮镇曼洪村委会老品自然村 [Laopin Natural Village, Manhong Village Committee, Mengzhe Town, Menghai County]. ynszxc.gov.cn. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
  5. ^ Kingsadā, Thō̜ngphet; Shintani, Tadahiko (1999). Basic Vocabularies of the Languages Spoken in Phongxaly, Lao P.D.R. Tokyo: Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA).
  6. ^ a b "Bisu". Omniglot. Archived from the original on 2019-07-05.
  • Bradley, David (2007). "Language Endangerment in China and Mainland Southeast Asia". In Brenzinger, Matthias (ed.). Language Diversity Endangered. New York: Mouton de Gruyte.

External links[]

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