Mpi language

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mpi
Kaw
Native toThailand, perhaps China
Ethnicity1,500 (2007)[1]
Native speakers
900 (2007)[1]
Language family
Sino-Tibetan
Language codes
ISO 639-3mpz
Glottologmpii1239
ELPMpi

Mpi is a Loloish language of Thailand. The number of speakers is in decline. It is spoken in the following two villages in northern Thailand.

  • Ban Dong, Tambon Suan Khuean สวนเขื่อน, Mueang Phrae District, Phrae Province (autonym: m̩˧pi˥˧ in Ban Dong)
  • Ban Sakoeng, Tambon Yot ยอด, Song Khwae District, Nan Province (autonym: kɔ˥˧ Ban Sakoeng)

Since the Mpi of Thailand migrated from Mengla, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China over 300 years ago, there could also possibly be Mpi speakers in China (Nahhas 2007).

Phonology[]

Mpi has six tones and two phonations in its vowels, modal voice and stiff voice:

Tone Modal voice Stiff voice
Low sì 'blood' sì̬ 'seven'
Low rising si᷅ 'putrid' si̬᷅ 'dried up'
Mid sī (a color) sī̬ (a classifier)
Mid rising sǐ 'to roll' sǐ̬ 'to smoke'
High sí 'four' sí̬ (a name)
High rising si᷄ 'to die' si̬᷄ (a name)

References[]

  1. ^ a b Mpi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)

Further reading[]

  • Ladefoged, Peter; Maddieson, Ian (1996). The Sounds of the World's Languages. Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 978-0-631-19815-4.
  • Nahhas, Ramzi W. (2007) Sociolinguistic Survey of Mpi in Thailand. SIL International
  • Sittichai, Sah-iam (1984). Phrases and clauses in the Mpi language at Ban Dong, Phrae Province. Bangkok: Mahidol University MA thesis.
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