Nyob zoo Hello Hmong Language Culture SEASSI 2009

Nyob zoo! Hello!

Hmong Language & Culture SEASSI 2009

Hmong RPA 1. Luang Prabang Province • Lindwood Barney (Protestant Missionary) • William A. Smalley (American linguist, anthropologist and missionary, at that time, he studied Khmu in Luang Prabang). • Ntxawg Yaaj (Hmong Advisor: tus pab tawm tswv yim, tsim kho suab) • Tuam Xyooj (Hmong Advisor: tus pab tawm tswv yim; tsim kho suab)

2. Xeev (Kiu Katiam) (, Luang Prabang • Father Yves Bertrais [Txiv Plig Nyiaj Pov] (French Roman Catholic Missionary) – Ntxoov Yeej Yaj(Hmong Advisor, pab tawm tswv yim; tsim kho suab) – Txawj Hawj Thao (Hmong Advisor, pab tawm tswv yim; tsim kho suab)

Single Consonants (17) C D F Q R S P V X Y H K L M N T Z • Moob Ntsuab: aa, dl, ndl, dlh, ndlh

Double Consonants (22) CH DH HL HM HN KH ML NC NK NP NQ NR NT NY PH PL QH RH TH TS TX XY

Triple Consonants (14) HML NPH NTH TSH HNY NPL NTS TXH NCH NQH NTX NKH NRH PLH Quadruple consonants (3) NPLH NTSH NTXH

Moob Ntsuab: aa, dl, ndl, dlh, ndlh Single vowels (6) a e i o u w Tone Markers: B M J V _ (no symbol) S G D

Double Vowels (8) aa ai ia oo au ua aw ee

Hmong Language [Lus Hmoob] • • Hmong language is a tonal language. Hmong language has 8 tones. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. B [high level pitch; maintain level pitch throughout the syllable] M [low falling/mid range; exhale] J [high falling; start high but drop quickly] V [mid rising; maintain your level pitch first and then raise your voice at the end] _ [no tone; mid level] S [low level; start below middle rang, maintain level, then drop voice slightly at end] G [breathy/whispery falling; falling pitch] 8. D [low rising; noticeable longer than other tones]

Lus Piv Txwv [Example] • • Cuab = to set a trap Cuaj = number 9 Cua = Wind/Chew Cuag = to reach Cuam = to throw/gibbon Cuav = fake Cuas = in-law Cuad = • • Pob = ball Poj = a female Po = spleen Pog = grandmother Pom = to see Pov = to throw Pos = to cover up Pod =

Sob Lus : Sentences • • Peb pom Pov tuaj pw_ tos Pog ped. We saw Poa sleeping over waiting for grandmother up there. • • Pov pog pom lub pob. Pao’s grandmother saw a ball. • • Pov pom Pos pov pob. Pao saw Poa tossing balls. • • Pos pw pem Pov ped. Poa sleep over there by Pao. • • Peb pom Pov pog pw pem Paj. We saw Pao’s grandmother sleep up there by Pa. • • Pos puas paub Paj pog? Did Poa knows Pa’s grandmother?

Hmong Oral Expression Marks • mas = yog mas [yes, it is true] • lov = ua li ntawd lov [really, is it really? ] • nab = puas yog nab? = [is it true? ] • os = ua li ntawd os [okay, that is fine] • nawb = ua li nawb [okay, leave as is] • laiv • yom = yog li kuv mus lawm laiv [in that case, I’m leaving now] = koj nrog kuv mus yom? [can you come along with me? ]

Kev Sib Hu: Greeting • • • A: Nyob zoo sawv ntxov, tav su, tsaus ntuj os. a: Nyob zoo tav su os. B: Nyob zoo os! b: Hello/Hi! A: Koj nyob li cas hnub no os? a: How are you today? B: Nyob zoo mas, koj ne? b: Fine, and you? A: Kuv nyob zoo thiab mas. a: I’m doing fine too.

Lus Txuas [Classifiers] 1. rab {tools, log objects} 2. lub {utensils, furnitures, round objects} 3. daim {use for flate objects} 4. phau {things come in volume} 5. sab {side of things; body parts} 6. txhais {side of thing, body parts} 7. tsob {living plants} 8. tus {people, log objects, animals, insects} 9. txoj {string objects} 10. zaj {songs, stories}

Hmong • • • Hmoob Dub = Black Hmong Hmoob Dawb = White Hmong Hmoob Leeg/Ntsuab = Green Hmong Hmoob Txhaij = Stripe Hmong Hmoob Liab Hau = Red Head Hmong Hmoob Suav = Chinese Hmong

Red Head Hmong

Green Hmong

Stripe Hmong

Black Hmong

White Hmong

Chinese Hmong

Kwv Txhiaj • • Kwv txhiaj plees = love song Kwv txhiaj ntsuag = orphanage song Kwv txhiaj ua nyab = marriage song Kwv txhiaj tuag = dying/funeral song Kwv thiaj tsiv teb tsaus chaws = migrate song Kwv txhiaj ua tsov ua rog = War song Kwv thiaj ua tshoob ua kos = Wedding song

Ni Yai…txiv leej tub………. Luag tsuas cav zoj tias tus nplooj tsawb twb zoo tsis cuag lawm tus nplooj ntse…es ntxhais nkauj xwb niam xav tsa ncauj nrog lawm koj hais los twb tsis paub lawm koj npe sas Hmoob om……. Tab nov ntsheb txiv leej tub……… Luag tsuas cav zoj tias tus nplooj ntse twb zoo tsis cuag lawm tus nplooj nqeeb…kuv ntxhais nkauj xwb niam xav tsa ncauj nrog lawm koj hais los twb tsis paub lawm koj xeem mog Hmoob om…….

Ni yai…. . me ntxhais nkauj xwb…… Tus cua tuaj los cua tshuab es yuav tshuab tag tus nplooj lwg poob tas tej sib lis niab es kuv txiv leej tub tias yog koj lub ncauj dag tuaj tsis yuav tiag ces tsis txhob dag kuv txiv leej tub nyob mus dai siab sas nkauj xwb om… Tab nov ntsheb me ntxhais nkauj xwb…. Tus cua tuaj los cua tshuab es yuav tshuab tag tus nplooj lwg poob tas tej sib lis zawv es kuv txiv leej tub tias yog koj lub ncauj dag tuaj tsis yuav tiag ces tsis txhob dag kuv txiv leej tub nyob mus dai plawv sas nkauj xwb om…

Kwv Txhiaj Plees [Nyuam Qhuav Sib Ntsib]

Kwv Txhiaj Plees [Sib Hlub]

NCAS [Mouth Harp]

Raj [Flute]

Raj Pum Liv [Blade Less Flute]

Qeej [Khang]

Qeej [Khang]